The New Orleans Pelicans are quickly becoming a global brand. The team’s second-round draft pick, Marcos Louzada Silva, will be on the global stage playing for Brazil at the 2019 FIBA World Cup.
The New Orleans Pelicans used a second-round draft pick to select Marcos Louzada Silva, known as Didi Silva. Didi Silva did well during his Las Vegas Summer League game time but will play this season for the Sydney Kings. Still, the team’s front office brass and fans can scout Silva’s on-court progress in the 2019 FIBA World Cup.
Like most teams, a provisional roster was named earlier this summer. Now though, the FIBA.com official team page for 12th ranked Brazil list only a final fifteen players. Didi Silva has seemingly made the final roster, to little surprise. The second-youngest member of the team, Didi Silva was called up to the senior squad less than one year ago but has fit in well.
Still, work remains to make the active 12-man gameday roster. Silva told FIBA.com:
"“I’d really like to play for the national team this summer, and be a part of the final roster that would help Brazil do well in China. I know the pool of players is large, so the battle is going to be intense to get a spot in the last 12.“If I get the opportunity to go to the training camp, I’m going to put 100 percent on the floor to try to make it and wear the national team jersey this summer. Competing in a FIBA World Cup is a one of the goals of my career, and it would be great to do so for the first time this summer.”"
Silva shot 50% from the field in the second phase of FIBA World Cup qualifying. His energy and long-distance accuracy will keep him in contention for a bench spot. He only played when Brazil had a lead but the time with the national team veterans was beneficial.
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Silva had never played for a team outside of Brazil professionally until he suited up in Las Vegas. The season in Sydney will help Silva with his eventual adjustment to NBA life. He is still only 19, with room to grow.
The New Orleans Pelicans will give him plenty of training camp sessions to prove himself in the next couple of years. National team duty is only one part of growing comfortable being away from home. From that same FIBA article, Silva is quoted saying:
"“I learned… a lot of things in only a couple of games with the national team during those qualifiers. It’s a fast way to gain experience, and when you share time on and off the court with veterans and the staff of the senior national team, you know that you are going to be a better player every day.“I received a lot of advice from the most experienced guys and I really enjoy wearing the national team jersey, so I really loved the qualifiers. I can’t wait to wear the national team jersey again.”"
Didi Silva is joined on the team by NBA veterans Anderson Varejao and Leandro Barbosa. Along with Memphis Grizzlies prospect Bruno Caboclo and Chicago Bulls big Cristiano Felicio, Brazil could challenge for a podium spot.
Brazil’s first game is against New Zealand. Giannis and Greece await in the second game. The third group stage game pits Silva’s Brazil against Montenegro. Should everything go to plan, Brazil would advance while avoiding the United States in the first knockout round.
New Orleans Pelicans fans would surely want to see Silva play as many games as possible, but a matchup against the United States in the fourth game is very likely. Team USA is not taking the top talents and could prove vulnerable.
Could Didi Silva be the player to plunge the dagger into Team USA’s tournament run? It would be fun to watch him go against actual NBA talent.