The Charlotte Hornets have a frontcourt problem for which there may not be a clear-cut solution at the moment, due to their crowded roster. But if Tidjane Salaun suddenly takes his game to a higher level, the Hornets' problem could be alleviated a bit.
We all know how their center depth could be one of their Achilles' heels this season, unless any among Moussa Diabate or Ryan Kalkbrenner also make an unexpected leap, or the front office decides to bring in a reinforcement via a midseason trade. Flying under the radar is the possibility that the power forward rotation of Miles Bridges and the still-injured Grant Williams could also prove to be disastrous for the franchise.
Another potential major weakness that could give Charlotte's supposed shortage of high-class big men a run for its money as the team's most vulnerable spot is the shaky perimeter defense.
The Hornets' loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in their first preseason game highlights the flaws in their wing defense, as the opponent's third-stringers scored 135 points, including 107 in the first three quarters. While some may argue that the contest shouldn't be viewed too seriously, the fact that Charlotte could not communicate and make the right read consistently on defense establishes that the squad has a long way to go in preventing foes from getting buckets.
If Salaun can finally live up to the hype of being the No. 6 selection in last year's draft, the Hornets might be able to address the said deficiencies.
For example, the Frenchman developing his outside range could turn him into the perfect big man duo with Diabate, as his compatriot can focus more on attacking in the paint, while he spaces the floor. Meanwhile, his improvement on defense could also make him the ideal partner for Kalkbrenner, who is more effective anchoring the paint and running drop coverage than chasing matchups in the perimeter.
As for the issue of a substandard perimeter defense, Salaun can help ease the burden off his teammates if he manages to display the capability to take on the assignment of guarding opposing bigger wings. There were possessions during the Thunder bout where he looked like Charlotte's best perimeter defender, although that's saying a lot more about the roster than his skills.
Hornets fans may find it hard to expect anything from Tidjane Salaun
Unfortunately, buying Salaun stock today may be fool's gold, especially considering how his rookie season went and the fact that his raw talent has yet to be proven refined. Of course, team president Jeff Peterson and coach Charles Lee have said all the right things about the incoming second-year pro this summer, but the real indicator of his growth will be his on-court performance.
Last year, Salaun ended up as one of the worst shot-makers in the league and was unable to harness his motor and athleticism to become a better defender. The silver lining is that he was quite active on the boards, giving the coaching staff at least one reason to put him on the floor.
It remains to be seen if the 20-year-old forward can make folks forget about the Hornets' possibly inadequate frontcourt rotation. Fans shouldn't bet their fortune on it, though.