After plenty of discourse and discussion, the Hornets threw a monumental curveball on draft night by selecting Tidjane Salaun with the sixth overall pick.
The Cholet Basket prospect is by far one of the biggest projects in the class. A complete unknown 18 months ago, Salaun began to put his name on the map when he was invited to the Basketball Without Borders camp in February 2023.
His ascension continued, rising up to the senior team in France’s top flight. He began with a few spot minutes here and there, and before he knew it, he was getting significant burn in the playoffs.
But who is Tidjane Salaun?
The first thing you will notice about him is his sheer size. At 6’10”, with broad shoulders and a 7’1” wingspan, Tidjane already has one of the best frames in the NBA. With that said, he will need to add a little muscle if he wants to fulfil his potential.
He is a bouncy and explosive athlete, who is able to blow by just about any defenders by simply overpowering them en route to the rim, where he is able to throw it down ferociously.
He is a strong shooter with a quick trigger from range. While he only shot 33% from three in France, he did so on 4.2 attempts per game, on an extremely difficult shot diet. I’m a buyer of his shot and think he’ll be a really good outside shooter a few years down the line. He has a really nice and easy release on his jumper, a high release point, and overall a nice looking shot.
While he is a strong ball handler too, don’t expect him to get much of a chance to do that with the team. It won’t be like last year, when our rookie (Brandon Miller) was able to get plenty of chances to handle the ball. Even if LaMelo Ball is injured again, the Hornets have a newfound depth at that position and will no longer need any wings to step into that role.
I do urge all fans to keep the following in mind, even if we don’t see it this coming season;
Salaun is an elite passer who has some serious upside as a play-maker. He makes lighting-quick decisions with the ball. He does well to keep the ball moving, and makes decisive drives at the rim.
Don’t be surprised if Salaun doesn’t start. Don’t be surprised if he gets limited burn. And for sure, don’t be surprised if he spends significant stretches in the G-League. This kid is a project, and we need to stay patient.
If I had to predict his minutes, at least for the beginning of the season, he will likely get 10-15 minutes a night. The Hornets bringing back Miles Bridges will prove costly in his development, as he is now playing behind both Bridges and Grant Williams.
When he is on the court, Charles Lee will almost certainly line him up with LaMelo’s minutes, or at least another strong and reliable ball handler. I would expect Salaun to spend a fair amount of time either in the corner or setting screens for the ball handler.
In fact, that could be his entire role for his rookie year. With his combination of a strong jumpshot and powerful driving capabilities, the pick-and-roll/pop will likely be his strong suit.
I think it’s important to keep this all in mind over the next 12 months. At the end of the day, this guy is a very long-term project, of which we may not see the rewards until three or four years from now.
Image: Charlotte Observer
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