Eye of the Tiger: The Tidjane Salaun Thread

[luciano-davidwesley]

Risacher averaged 11 ppg in the French League
Salaun averaged 9 ppg in the French League
Coulibaly averaged 5 ppg in the French League

Giddey averaged 11 ppg in the NBL
Sarr averaged 9 ppg in the NBL
Dieng averaged 9 ppg in the NBL
Rupert averaged 7 ppg in the NBL
Flowers averaged 5 ppg in the NBL
AJ Johnson averaged 3 ppg in the NBL

I will say it again louder for the people in the back... the French League is way better than the NBL.

Way better is too much. You rag on the NBL a lot but it's an above average international league.

[Bassman]

It's an uneasy pick and I get why people are miffed, I still would have taken Buzelis becuase he shows more stuff with the ball in his hands, but maybe Peterson knows whats he doing...hopefully

Hey I’m hoping for the best, but Peterson went to France, got all caught up in the food, the wine and fell in love. Simple as that.

[amcoolio]

A good breakdown on how advanced Salaun is defensively, he might actually be in the rotation next year. He moves very well on defense. Close outs and rotates fast at his size with crazy length. Communicates and has endless energy. High defensive IQ. Makes mistakes and is off balance sometimes but is very young playing against grown men.

Defense is ahead of offense. Has no touch around basket. Bad footwork when dribbling. Shooting form but needs work with hands, but 75% FT shooter and his form is great. Will never be an on ball creator, definitely a role player. They say he compares to a bigger but unrefined Aaron Gordon, but ahead of Gordon with his jump shot, to me he profiles as a huge Trevor Ariza

Definitely a Clifford player if there ever was one

Watch on YouTube

[Diop]

i'm going to be unreasonably optimistic with him, cant wait to see him

[MPM]

A good breakdown on how advanced Salaun is defensively, he might actually be in the rotation next year. He moves very well on defense. Close outs and rotates fast at his size with crazy length. Communicates and has endless energy. High defensive IQ. Makes mistakes and is off balance sometimes but is very young playing against grown men.

Defense is ahead of offense. Has no touch around basket. Bad footwork when dribbling. Shooting form but needs work with hands, but 75% FT shooter and his form is great. Will never be an on ball creator, definitely a role player. They say he compares to a bigger but unrefined Aaron Gordon, but ahead of Gordon with his jump shot, to me he profiles as a huge Trevor Ariza

Definitely a Clifford player if there ever was one

Watch on YouTube

Funny - I've been thinking Aaron Gordon for awhile now, but unrefined Aaron Gordon nails it.

EDIT: Was able to watch the whole clip this morning and they hit on something that's struck me as well - although Dijon is not a fantastic vertical athlete, he is an elite lateral athlete (check the 29:55 mark) - a gazelle running in transition and covers ground in the halfcourt in a flash.

[wilson115]

He needs to get stronger, get it in his head right off he's a big who happens to have a jump shot. Instead of pretending he's a wing and the next PG13 like the trap Kai fell into. Otherwise the other team just hides their best scorer or a guard on him like they did with Frank. Defense, rebounds, picks and hand-offs. Keep it simple and see where it goes.

Some others with comparable measurables:
Naz Reid - 6'8.75" no shoes, 9'1" standing reach, but much heavier
Derrick Favors - 6'8.75", 9'2", ditto
Wendell Carter, Jr. - 6'8.75", 9'2", ditto
Daniel Gafford - 6'9.25", 9'2", ditto
Kevon Looney - 6'8.75", 9'2", only a few lbs heavier as a rookie
Paul Reed, Jr. - 6'8.5", 9'1.5", ditto
JT Thor - 6'8.5", 9'2", but much lighter

[yosemiteben]

Read on Twitter

Like it, get your guy.

[EmpireFalls]

Watch on YouTube

If anyone wants to take the deep dive

He tries multiple things per game that look like they don’t have a chance of having a chance of working. Also jacks a ton of 3s it’s like his coaches just gave him the green light to shoot whenever. Btw I think he really can be a lot more efficient than this, he makes things unbelievably hard on himself on his drives and doesn’t have consistent footwork on jumpers. If he learns to just always prepare for contact when he finishes he can be just fine.

I think if he can learn a pump fake in the immediate term that will prove the biggest singular thing that can make him a better player. Guys do really close out on him… a pump fake and a counter to being run off the 3 point line could go a long long way.

[JMAC3]

Risacher averaged 11 ppg in the French League
Salaun averaged 9 ppg in the French League
Coulibaly averaged 5 ppg in the French League

Giddey averaged 11 ppg in the NBL
Sarr averaged 9 ppg in the NBL
Dieng averaged 9 ppg in the NBL
Rupert averaged 7 ppg in the NBL
Flowers averaged 5 ppg in the NBL
AJ Johnson averaged 3 ppg in the NBL

I will say it again louder for the people in the back... the French League is way better than the NBL.

Way better is too much. You rag on the NBL a lot but it's an above average international league.

Meh not really
1. NBA

2. Euroleague

3. Spanish ACB

4. Turkish League
5. French LNB
6. Greek League
7. ABA
8. Italian League

9. German League
10. Russian League
111. Australian NBL

10. China
11. Israeli

Everything else

[fatlever]

Read on Twitter

?t=m23rwOoJlBidFuF6htDGg&s=19

40% on open Catch and shoot, 36% off the dribble. We can limit his three-point attempts to those two things right now that's really solid. He completely falls apart on contested and step back threes

Sent from my SM-G973U using RealGM mobile app

[LofJ]

That deep shot percentage is promising too. He shouldn't shoot that in game (yet), but he should make it a priority to practice. Imagine him playing the 5 and drawing a defender that far away from the basket.

[Braggins]

Seems risky, but idk. Hope he works out.

[amcoolio]

He moves very well on defense and off the ball/in transition on offense. Those two things might get him in the rotation next year.

[fatlever]

"who is tj bj?" lol
i'm warming up to this pick

[amcoolio]

Surprised no one posted his press conference video with KJ, Lee and Peterson.

One of our terrible reporters asked what he likes about Charlotte so far and he said he doesn't know much, when he got here he just asked where the gym is and thats it. Good start lol

[SWedd523]

Surprised no one posted his press conference video with KJ, Lee and Peterson.

One of our terrible reporters asked what he likes about Charlotte so far and he said he doesn't know much, when he got here he just asked where the gym is and thats it. Good start lol

Melo gonna get his claws in this kid and he's gonna look like an NBA 2K create a player

[Chapelchilla]

The press conference was like 80% we picked these guys because of their attitudes, work ethic and ability to overcome adversity. They really emphasized building a new culture. Also, we are going to run fast, kick the ball out and up, and play lot's of 4/5 out line ups.
They also said they are being deliberate and methodical with the team build and working towards not a one time play off puch but to get and stay there long term. A program!'
I think we actually have a plan. If these guys are decent I hope they continue with it.

[amcoolio]

Certainly they are moving on from Richards and trying to find a backup big who can shoot, if they want to play a lot of 5 out

[EmpireFalls]

Certainly they are moving on from Richards and trying to find a backup big who can shoot, if they want to play a lot of 5 out

Jalen Smith isn’t a bad bet. He’s not really a true 5 but I like his shot a lot.

[Diop]

The press conference was like 80% we picked these guys because of their attitudes, work ethic and ability to overcome adversity. They really emphasized building a new culture.

This is what I noticed and why I support the pick. Most of us said we want a change of culture and they’re actively trying to do that.