The Charlotte Hornets have done splendidly in the first two games of the preseason.
The team lost against the New York Knicks in the opener, although it was just three free throws away from stealing the win. Still, there were plenty of positive takeaways from that contest, especially considering it was the Hornets' first game together in a long while.
On Tuesday, they faced off against the Miami Heat, pulling out a 111-108 victory. Hornets rookie Tidjane Salaun's jumper with 59.1 seconds left gave the squad a one-point lead that it held onto until the final buzzer.
The Hornets' best players in the first two preseason games
Of course, winning is just one motivation driving Charlotte this preseason. More important for the franchise is to continue seeing its players improve and to find out which combinations of lineup work out well.
So far, three players have stood out for the team, including a surprising youngster who many felt wasn't ready for the big league.
Tidjane Salaun
When the Hornets drafted Salaun with the No. 6 pick this summer, it signaled that they were planning on extending their rebuild by at least one more year. After all, the 19-year-old Frenchman was seen as a raw player, while other seemingly NBA-ready prospects who were projected to be able to immediately help teams that drafted them were available.
For instance, Rob Dillingham was selected two picks later than Salaun and performed outstandingly in his first preseason match for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Interestingly, Salaun has defied expectations, especially after a middling Summer League performance. He has been one of Charlotte's best players early in the preseason. Against the Knicks, he scored 11 on 4-for-8 shooting from the field and 3-for-5 shooting from beyond the arc. The big man then proved it wasn't a fluke by putting up 15 points and four 3-pointers two days later versus Miami. He also fell two rebounds short of a double-double.
He has looked comfortable letting it fly from deep, hitting pull-up shots and catch-and-shoots. If the teenager can maintain his pace from long range, the Hornets might need to consider slotting him into the rotation.
Earlier in the offseason, Salaun showed he was ready to be a contributor for Charlotte in the 2024-25 campaign by detailing how playing in the NBA seems easier than in Europe. Through two preseason appearances, he has walked the talk and has made a strong case to get significant minutes once the regular season starts.