Eye of the Tiger: The Tidjane Salaun Thread

[wilson115]

Awful dribbling.

Awful hands (dropped 5-6 passes this week that should absolutely have been dunks. At the combine he had unusually small hands as well)

Runs in transition and cleans up on the offensive boards, so the stats look efficient, but he shot 1-17 outside of the restricted area. 3-7 on FTs too so the shot is a big problem.

0 blocks, 1 steal in total. Not a defensive playmaker.

I’m concerned we just drafted an energy guy with the 6th pick over real difference makers like Clingan, Buzelis, and Ware.

He's only got a total of two turnovers listed over three SL games though, are those credited to the passer?

[MasterIchiro]

Clearly the pick was made for paying dividends 2 years from now. Miles declining contract spells it out. We got TJ to replace Miles when Mark and Miller get paid. He is 18. He should look raw and unrefined. If he plays like he does now with 2 years of Lee coaching him on how to play NBA style basketball then we should be disappointed with the pick.

If I were Miles, I would feel zero threat this Bambi dribbler can replace him at any point in time on his 3 year contract.

Miles is actually a playmaker, a decent one for his tertiary role. He's probably as good of a playmaker as Josh Green at the 2. The guy can create off the dribble whereas Salaun might never ever be able to achieve that.

This notion that Salaun is a replacement for Miles is totally off the mark. If anything, Salaun can help them shift down Miles and Miller to the 3 and 2 respectively.

Salaun will have to play Josh Green to the bench.

Such a tall order but not close to the impossible task of filling Miles' shoes anytime soon.

[MasterIchiro]

Miles was picked beside a headliner of the SGA draft. Miles as a Sophomore goes #1 overall in this one and hits the ground running.

[MasterIchiro]

And just imagine how long it will take for Salaun to rival Josh Green as a POA defender. Josh Green also has 3 years on his deal like Miles.

Salaun is looking like a Swarm mascot at this point.

[HornetJail]

i'll be happy if Salaun can fill JT Thor's minutes his first couple seasons

[MasterIchiro]

i'll be happy if Salaun can fill JT Thor's minutes his first couple seasons

Baby steps.

[JustBuzzin]

We all gonna laugh at these Salaun comments 5 years from now.

This kid has a NBA body, but it's clear he's still growing into his body. The shot I'm not concerned with. He needs to get better with his ball handling and movement with the ball. He seems very unsure of his next move whenever he has the ball. Once he gets more experience with the ball in his hands the game should come much easier.

I'm not writing this kid off yet, it was clear he was selected as a project kind of player. We will have to be patient with this kid over the next few years.

[Liver_Pooty]

Anyone that takes too much into summer league is just an idiot.

[lmcguir15]

It's wild to me to see statements like these. He's 18 years old and has the physique and reported work ethic you look for. Summer League was never going to look good for the most raw prospect in the draft. Why are we so quick to label the kid? Because he's not putting up 20 in a Summer League game?

[Goodecharlotte]

Miller didn't look to hot in his 1st SL outings but look at him now. TS will take time to develop but we new that anyway. We have just got to be patient with him.

[Chapelchilla]

It's wild to me to see statements like these. He's 18 years old and has the physique and reported work ethic you look for. Summer League was never going to look good for the most raw prospect in the draft. Why are we so quick to label the kid? Because he's not putting up 20 in a Summer League game?

Yep. There is some crazy talk in this thread about the hopelessness of an 18 year who already has a professional basketball players body. If he still looks raw after 2 years in the league he may not get it. Right now? He should look raw. He is 18 and just moved to the United States a month ago, lol.

[Snidely FC]

I guess looking at Peterson's draft history https://www.si.com/nba/hornets/draft/exploring-jeff-peterson-s-draft-history we shouldn't be surprised as his most recent 1st rd pick for BKN was a stretch 4, Noah Clowney, though Clowney went #21 not #6 like Salaun

anyway, pre-draft analysis of Clowney sounded a lot like pre-draft analysis of Salaun, including him being a late, fast riser https://www.nbadraft.net/players/noah-clowney/

Spoiler:

Watch on YouTube

[Bassman]

I guess looking at Peterson's draft history https://www.si.com/nba/hornets/draft/exploring-jeff-peterson-s-draft-history we shouldn't be surprised as his most recent 1st rd pick for BKN was a stretch 4, Noah Clowney, though Clowney went #21 not #6 like Salaun

anyway, pre-draft analysis of Clowney sounded a lot like pre-draft analysis of Salaun, including him being a late, fast riser https://www.nbadraft.net/players/noah-clowney/

Spoiler:

Watch on YouTube

Good find and observation. Clowney wasn’t a bad pick at 21, and his upside is limited to what I’d expect from a player selected in that range. Salaun will need to excel higher to justify the choice, but he’s got time to develop.

[Rich4114]

The good news on Salaun is that I have zero expectations he'll contribute anything meaningful until maybe his third season if all goes well. So it'll be hard to be let down further.

[JustBuzzin]

The good news on Salaun is that I have zero expectations he'll contribute anything meaningful until maybe his third season if all goes well. So it'll be hard to be let down further.

We are a Grant Williams injury away from him getting major playing time even as a rookie. I'm not sure why people are expecting him to sit for 3 years. He's not that raw of a prospect. His 3pt shot is solid and he brings energy. He's just raw mentally. Once he gets the feel of the NBA game and get playing time he should be fine.

I'm not expecting him to be a ROTY candidate or anything, but I do think he will play this season sooner than people think. Luckily for him he plays a position in which is probably the weakest on the roster pf. I know Miles plays pf, but he's more of a tweener. Grant is the only real threat ahead of him.

[JMAC3]

Trying to judge Salaun off how he fits into the team in the preseason of year 1 feels a bit wild to me...How many top 10 picks are even projected to start from the past 2 drafts?

Wemby- Yes, without a doubt
Miller- Yes, without a doubt
Scoot- Maybe, Simons, Sharpe, Deni, Grant and Ayton are their best 5 players.
Amen- No
Ausar- No
Black- No
Bilal - Yes, likely
Walker- No
Hendricks- No
Cason- No

Risacher- Yes, Likely but Hunter might start.
Sarr - Maybe, but also could see them start Bilal, Kuzma, JVal front court
Reed- No
Castle- No
Holland- No
Salaun- No
Clingan- No
Dillingham- No
Edey- maybe, likely him Aldama start next to JJJ.
Cody Williams- No

So we have 13 resounding No's- 65%
4 yes- 20%
3 maybes- 15%

Don't think Salaun not being featured is nearly as wild as people want you to believe.

[HornetJail]

Trying to judge Salaun off how he fits into the team in the preseason of year 1 feels a bit wild to me...How many top 10 picks are even projected to start from the past 2 drafts?

Wemby- Yes, without a doubt
Miller- Yes, without a doubt
Scoot- Maybe, Simons, Sharpe, Deni, Grant and Ayton are their best 5 players.
Amen- No
Ausar- No
Black- No
Bilal - Yes, likely
Walker- No
Hendricks- No
Cason- No

Risacher- Yes, Likely but Hunter might start.
Sarr - Maybe, but also could see them start Bilal, Kuzma, JVal front court
Reed- No
Castle- No
Holland- No
Salaun- No
Clingan- No
Dillingham- No
Edey- maybe, likely him Aldama start next to JJJ.
Cody Williams- No

So we have 13 resounding No's- 65%
4 yes- 20%
3 maybes- 15%

Don't think Salaun not being featured is nearly as wild as people want you to believe.

the question is far closer to "when is he even playable" rather than "can he start"? I feel pretty comfortable that each other player in the top 10 of this draft (and top 7 of the previous) expect their guy to play this season.Ausur might be a different story but that's due to health.

[yosemiteben]

Wtf with this thread title. We're going back to the last one

[Bassman]

FWIW - Locked On Hornets podcast guys interviewed coach Lee, asked about Salaun, and what would it take for him to see minutes with the team. Paraphrasing, Salaun has to gain knowledge and pro level BBIQ, also know how to not go 110% every play (speed of game and pace), etc. I don’t think there was any commentary on his skill set, physical capabilities, etc.

[fatlever]

yeah, i think the conversations is - how many years, if ever, until he is a top 9-10 rotation player? i don't ever expect him to be a starter, unless injuries.