‣ The Atlanta Hawks have waived forward Chris Silva.
‣ Silva has had multiple stints with the Miami Heat and has also played for the Sacramento Kings and Minnesota Timberwolves.
‣ Silva has had success in the G League, averaging double-digit points and rebounds in his time with the College Park Skyhawks and Iowa Wolves.
Hawks just now waived Chris Silva.
— Kevin Chouinard (@KLChouinard)
Details
The Atlanta Hawks have made the decision to waive forward Chris Silva, according to sources. Silva, a former undrafted player out of South Carolina, signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Miami Heat back in 2019. The 6-foot-8 wing had his training camp deal converted into a two-way contract for the 2019-20 season with the Heat. In his rookie season, Silva averaged 3.0 points and 2.9 rebounds per game in 44 appearances off the bench.
Silva made his NBA debut on October 23, 2019, and made an immediate impact, recording eight points, six rebounds, and three blocks in the Heat’s win over the Memphis Grizzlies. His performance led to his two-way contract being converted into a standard contract on January 15, 2020. Silva went on to play 11 games in the 2020-21 season with Miami, averaging 2.7 points and 2.3 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 69.2% from the field.
However, Silva’s journey took a turn when he was traded by the Heat, along with Maurice Harkless, to the Sacramento Kings in March. Unfortunately, Silva had limited opportunities with the Kings, appearing in just four games before being waived by the team. Despite the setbacks, Silva’s career was not over yet.
After signing a contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves in September 2021, Silva was waived by the team a month later. He briefly returned to the Wolves on a 10-day contract, but only made one appearance before signing with the Iowa Wolves, Minnesota’s NBA G League affiliate, in October. Silva made the most of his time in the G League, averaging 15.1 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per game in 12 appearances with Iowa. His standout performance came in a loss to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, where he scored a career-high 32 points and grabbed 18 rebounds.
Throughout the 2021-22 season, Silva had multiple stints with the Miami Heat, signing four 10-day contracts with the team. In nine games off the bench, he contributed 2.9 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, shooting 53.3% from the field. Silva’s journey led him to the Atlanta Hawks, where he signed an Exhibit 10 contract in August 2022. Although he was waived before the start of the 2022-23 season, Silva joined the College Park Skyhawks, the Hawks’ G League affiliate.
In his time with College Park, Silva made his presence known, averaging 14.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game in 21 appearances. He also led all players in block percentage during the Showcase Cup. While Silva’s NBA journey has had its ups and downs, his determination and strong performances in the G League indicate that he still has plenty to offer on the court.
