The two years prior to the 2024 draft saw the Charlotte Hornets land likely franchise cornerstones in Mark Williams and Brandon Miller. So, there was a sense of optimism that the team could make it three in a row.
However, the draft showed that the Hornets were willing to take it slow by selecting a raw but high-upside prospect, Tidjane Salaun, with the sixth overall pick. Then, in the second round, the team brought in KJ Simpson, a senior from the University of Colorado Boulder.
The moves, particularly drafting the unproven French youngster, left some pundits unimpressed. They believed finding immediate help should have been the way to go because LaMelo Ball is already at an age where he should probably start playing for a rising contender.
Salaun's age has been obvious
Six months later, it's evident that Salaun won't be able to defy expectations in his rookie year, and it's not because of a lack of opportunities. At the start of the regular season, it appeared like the coaching staff was willing to take the patient route with the 19-year-old, giving him a couple of DNPs.
But because of injuries, a pathway to some playing time opened up for him. Since then, Salaun has been a part of the rotation, although his roles have fluctuated, depending on Charlotte's available players and the flow of the game. Still, the fact that he has averaged just 5.0 points and 4.2 rebounds in 19.3 minutes per contest confirms he still has a long way to go in his development.
On the bright side, Salaun's energy and effort deserve praise. Whenever he's on the court, he is usually the most active among all the Hornets players. If the promising big man can just improve his efficiency from the field, it wouldn't be surprising to see him become at least a decent starter in the future, especially since he has the makings of an athletic big with range and a deep defensive bag.
Simpson has shown potential, and that's it
While Salaun was able to crack the Hornets' rotation and avoid a G League assignment in his debut year, Simpson had to bide his time before finally seeing action in an NBA game.
Interestingly, similar to Tidjane's case, Simpson's opportunity came when Charlotte didn't have enough healthy bodies in the backcourt. He made the most out of it during a three-game streak that saw him record 9.0 points and 4.0 assists per contest, including a near-double-double in a loss against the Philadelphia 76ers and playing some solid defense.
The 22-year-old playmaker doesn't look like a productive NBA player at the moment, although the potential he has displayed has proven that the Hornets may have found a diamond in the rough in the second round of the 2024 draft.
The Grade
With all the injuries the Hornets have had to deal with, perhaps it would have been advantageous had they gotten rookies who can contribute immediately. Then again, the organization's sights are seemingly set on the future. So, it probably doesn't regret how its 2024 draft turned out — for now.