When the Charlotte Hornets selected Tidjane Salaun in the 2024 draft, they knew they were getting a project player who might need more than a couple of years to come into his own. That much was evident during his rookie year. Even so, we can't just write off the possibility of Salaun making the leap this offseason and becoming a more serviceable player in the 2025-26 campaign.
If he finds a way to develop his rebounding and defense, he could be vital in addressing the supposed problem the Hornets have at center.
Many folks, including pundits like Zach Lowe, are a bit pessimistic about Charlotte's chances of turning the corner this year, noting that its decision not to look for better reinforcements at the big man position could be its undoing. But what if Salaun becomes a more complementary player to the team's collection of fives?
Two of Ryan Kalkbrenner's limitations so far are his rebounding and lack of lateral quickness on defense. An improved version of Salaun can help address those weak links. The same can be said about Mason Plumlee, who, at 35 years old, is better-suited to be a third-string center at most but could get the starting nod on opening night.
As for Moussa Diabate, he is already an elite rebounder and a high-motor defender. Putting him on the floor with the said iteration of the second-year forward would give the Hornets a menacing big man duo.
Hornets fans need to be patient with Tidjane Salaun
Unfortunately, hoping that Salaun will show up at the onset of the 2025-26 regular season with refined rebounding and defense might be wishful thinking. He definitely has the physical tools to do so, but the teenager's inexperience is just too difficult to ignore.
To be fair, he was a decent rebounder last season, recording 8.1 boards per 36 minutes. Salaun's defense was quite erratic, though. The good news was that he tried on almost every possession. The bad news was that he displayed a lack of fundamental footwork and discipline.
Maybe the Hornets can bring someone in to train Salaun to harness his physique and athleticism, utilizing them to his advantage when crashing the glass and preventing opponents from scoring.
While he should designate some time in his training for rebounding and defense, the French youngster shouldn't forget to elevate his offense. He was one of the worst shot-makers among rotation-tier players last season.
He did offer a glimpse of hope during Summer League, putting up 14.0 points per contest in his brief stint at Las Vegas. Salaun must prove, though, that his improvement will manifest on the court once the real games start.