Eye of the Tiger: The Tidjane Salaun Thread

[JustBuzzin]

John Collins 2.0

[MPM]

Watching some of the new footage posted here it's obvious he's still learning the game (awareness lapses abound), but his hands are good, he moves well, he looks comfortable dribbling in transition (off the dribble not so much), he's active on the glass and seems a good 50/50 guy, on-ball D looks good, he's unafraid to take shots, and he's obviously playing with grown-ass men. There's a ton to work with here.

[JMAC3]

https://www.sofascore.com/team/basketball/cholet-basket/3539

Cholet went 17-17 in LNB, finished 7th out of 18 teams this year.
They made the playoffs.
Salaun was a starter.
-5th in mpg
-3rd in scoring
-2nd rebounds
-2nd in 3s made

He was a pretty big contributor for a solid team in a really strong league.

[Hornet Mania]

Couldn't post last night because I was too busy doing the above.

Feeling better about it this morning, but still seems inexplicable. I hope Salaun makes us all look as dumb as people were for mocking the Miller pick last year.

[EmpireFalls]

Here's a 6 minute game of Salaun's plays on both ends, good and bad.

Please do let me know how far you get before bursting out laughing. For me it was about 2:45.

https://youtu.be/x-pmGCjuXvI?si=OoiIzIBLVhKJoORM

Meh, in that video he looks like a raw prospect who plays with a lot of energy but doesn't shoot it all that well. It highlighted his hustle plays and the fact he can't finish in any traffic but when you think about it, most NBA players, if you can get a step on them, just give you the lane at some point in a game so they can get back on defense.

He looks like a baby deer grew to 6 foot 9 and was immediately put into a basketball game after practicing some jump shots.

[Rich4114]

I think the biggest problem with this pick is the fact that we've been undersized, bad at rebounding, poor interior defense, leading the league in goaltending, lack overall roster talent and decided to pass up on Donavan Clingan who most experts would say is the most sure thing in this draft who gives you all of the things we lack. That's before even mentioning our current C rotation is a literal house of cards between Mark's questionable back injury and Nick Richard's questionable brain.

They must've really liked this guy and must've truly felt SAS were planning to take him after Portland. At minimum, we could've had the MN deal to have even more future frp's in the stash to make a bigger deal later. I'd rather have Dejounte Murray on my team right now than Salaun, the Dallas 27 pick and the Miami 27 pick for example.

I'd also rather have Clingan and be set at C with 2 guys who are clearly NBA C's and one guy who can be an emergency C if one inevitably misses time. Now we have to hope they actually participate in free agency and address that position, keep Miles and add another wing who can play this season.

Or are we just signing up to tank again so as soon as it's looking better we can have LaMelo request a trade because he's tired of losing and then start the cycle all over again.

The new ownership group and front office need to realize that while this is their first year, the fans don't want to keep losing, being irrelevant, being a joke and building a reputation that nobody wants to come to Charlotte to play. They want to be the premier franchise in the NBA, well how? When? Words are great, but what is the plan? I don't like the vague talk. Just tell us what you intend to do so we can figure out if we want to spend our time on it now or come back in 5 years when you figure it out.

And why tf is Steve Clifford and Mitch still in the room influencing picks? We were all excited for them to NOT be doing this anymore. Was MJ there too dictating?

This pick may very well work out. I was wrong on Miller last year and I'm super happy I was. I'd love to be wrong this year too and really hope I am. But I definitely can't sit here and say I'm encouraged or excited about what's next. I understand it's the draft, it's very much an unknown and I'm no scout or GM. But ffs, give us something to be excited and hopeful for. The last 2 seasons were dreadful and we don't trust you until you show us we can.

[KembaWalker]

Funny there are Pistons fans moping in their Holland thread about how they should have picked Salaun

[Bassman]

Couldn't post last night because I was too busy doing the above.

Feeling better about it this morning, but still seems inexplicable. I hope Salaun makes us all look as dumb as people were for mocking the Miller pick last year.

HA HA great pics post…exactly how dumbfounded we all are. Last night after I got over the initial shock, I was happier with it than I was late before going to bed, and not feeling much better today. MasterIchiro nailed it…a pick based upon a lot of physical traits with some good qualities and potential, but not on assured skills and BBIQ. Peterson’s first pick for us and he goes all “REAL MEN OF GENIUS” on us…selecting the surprise riser from France…because Jeff is gonna show us all how brilliant he is.

[lmcguir15]

Funny there are Pistons fans moping in their Holland thread about how they should have picked Salaun

I will say, the Holland fit is either indicative they don't care about shooting in the slightest, or Langdon is retooling. Holland can't play with Ausar and Cade needed a shooter to help him out with the scoring. Can you imagine lineups with Ausar, Duren and Holland? It's a spacing nightmare.

[Rich4114]

I get it, big swing, big upside in a draft that is going to be full of busts. Not a bad strategy. But can we afford to keep lighting first round draft capital on fire? No wonder why the Knicks traded 15 picks for Mikal. We should've too, it's a far safer way to use that capital for franchises that don't know how to draft.

[JMAC3]

The only two guys I really would have taken over Salaun were probably Cody Williams and Matas Buzelis. but.....

If you compare them Salaun is the biggest. He has 20lbs on Buzelis, 40lbs on Cody Williams.
Salaun when you look at mix of 3pt%, 3pt volume, ft% profiles as the best outside shooter longterm.
6.8 3pa per 36 vs 2.2 for Cody, 3.9 for Matas

https://www.tankathon.com/players/compare?players=matas-buzelis--tidjane-salaun--cody-williams

[dmutombo321]

I'm fine with tanking next season but am baffled as to why we take an ultra-raw project (admittedly with frame, youth, athleticism and work ethic if you're stretching to view the glass as half full) as opposed to the best defensive 5 we've seen in the past decade (when our 5 just missed a half-year with a chronic back injury that apparently still isn't right) or trading down for a future asset where we still could've grabbed an Edey, Knect, Matas or Cody Williams (the latter of whom have already shown glimpses of high level basketball talent and are the type of projects far more likely to pop then our Frenchman)

Had we taken a raw player like Saluan at #18, I would've shrugged and raised an eyebrow but ultimately been ok. Taking him at #6 however, even in this weak draft was foolish as there were better options.

Is it possible he succeeds - yes

Am I rooting for him to succeed - absolutely

Is it a risk I would've been comfortable gambling on with our #6 if I were GM, even if I liked the kid after a good workout and interview.... No way..

Sent from my motorola edge (2021) using RealGM mobile app

Cody Williams is just as much of a project as Salaun. He weighs like 5 more pounds than Trae Young. It's going to take him multiple years to develop his body to an NBA level. I wouldn't have minded a trade back and picking Matas, but a lot of teams passed on him so it's not like we made an obvious mistake there. Heck, the Spurs didn't like anyone at 8 so they traded out of the draft entirely. The reports that they were locked in on Salaun at 8 are probably true given what they did with the Dillingham trade.

All project players are gamble of course but with prospects like Cody Williams and Matas, they've already demonstrated high level basketball talent and an understanding of the game. The hope is that their scrawny bodies fill out as they continue to hone their skills.

I'll take that gamble any day over picking an athlete with a poor feel for the game and hoping that they learn it. I don't care how high their motor is, how impressive their wing span / frame, or of they're a hard worker; those virtues are all great but if that player has a poor or mediocre grasp of the game they mean nothing. And if you're hoping they develop it later, you're taking a complete crapshoot on your lotto pick, imo.

If I am taking that kind of a leap of faith, I'm doing it in the 20s or the second round..

Sent from my motorola edge (2021) using RealGM mobile app

[Rich4114]

The only two guys I really would have taken over Salaun were probably Cody Williams and Matas Buzelis. but.....

If you compare them Salaun is the biggest. He has 20lbs on Buzelis, 40lbs on Cody Williams.
Salaun when you look at mix of 3pt%, 3pt volume, ft% profiles as the best outside shooter longterm.
6.8 3pa per 36 vs 2.2 for Cody, 3.9 for Matas

https://www.tankathon.com/players/compare?players=matas-buzelis--tidjane-salaun--cody-williams

I'm gonna need more of this JMAC. This isn't like taking Miller over Scoot. This is like taking Grady Dick over both. Keep this coming, we're gonna need it lol

[Walt Cronkite]

Feeling better about this pick now that morning has come. Clingan was the player that we were somewhat linked with that made me the most nervous, so I am relieved I don't have to convince myself on him. I was really not looking forward to that with Knecht either, but was more resigned to that reality. Matas seems incredibly unlikable.

Tidjane Salaun wasn't on our radar, but maybe that means the new FO is much improved at keeping their preferred prospects closer to the vest and can negotiate trades from a stronger position because of it. Ultimately, I wanted the team to take whoever they valued as the best player at 6 and not to give up resources to chase another guy, which seems like maybe they did. If the trade works out with the Grizzlies and they get Clingan and the Hornets take Salaun at 9, I think we are all feeling better about this, but it takes two sides to make that happen and if we had intel Spurs would probably take the guy rated highest on the big board, I would prefer to just take the guy we want, so that is commendable.

The franchise, for basically it's entire existence, has done little to give the fanbase confidence that it can develop a raw prospect into something better. Having written that, with new ownership and office staff in place, maybe that isn't entirely fair right now. Maybe the new regime will have more competence. We shouldn't hold our breaths, but it's possible.

[JMAC3]

The only two guys I really would have taken over Salaun were probably Cody Williams and Matas Buzelis. but.....

If you compare them Salaun is the biggest. He has 20lbs on Buzelis, 40lbs on Cody Williams.
Salaun when you look at mix of 3pt%, 3pt volume, ft% profiles as the best outside shooter longterm.
6.8 3pa per 36 vs 2.2 for Cody, 3.9 for Matas

https://www.tankathon.com/players/compare?players=matas-buzelis--tidjane-salaun--cody-williams

I'm gonna need more of this JMAC. This isn't like taking Miller over Scoot. This is like taking Grady Dick over both. Keep this coming, we're gonna need it lol

I am not really sold on anyone in the top 10 picks averaging more than 12 ppg this year.
Sarr is probably the best shot because Wiz might just feature him...
Risacher is going to be a 4th option unless Atl blows it up.
Sheppard is playing behind too many good guards (FVV, Amen, Jalen, Whitmore).
Castle- should get mins, but we all know his scoring isn't a strong suit rn.
Holland- might be best shot depending on what Detroit does before year.
Salaun- depends on what we do in FA.
Clingan- how soon does he take Ayton mins?
Dillingham- Could be the ROY fav honestly, depends on how much he plays with Conley, NAW and Edwards
Edey- interested to see if Memphis adds another big
Cody Williams- wildcard

[Walt Cronkite]

I keep reading the thread as TayJohn Salmons and not sure how I feel about it because I really liked John Salmons.

[MPM]

The last five years we've taken Miller (2), Mark (15), Bouk (11), LaMelo (3), and Washington (12). Love 'em or hate 'em it doesn't reak of a franchise bad at leveraging the 1st round. We hit on 4 of 5, and hit big on 3 out of 5 (if Mark and Melo get healthy).

I think the take here that we can't be trusted to draft wisely rings a bit hollow. Sure bonehead stuff has happened (Duren, etc.) but it does across the NBA.

I'm going to wait to see what Salaun becomes before **** on him. For now, I like what he could be.

[JDR720]

That was under Mitch though.

I'd feel a lot better if Peterson had a good drafting record with the Nets. But he really doesn't.

[Robot Rock]

Sounds familiar.

https://restorationnewsmedia.com/articles/wilsontimes/bobcats-impressed-with-ajinca/

[MPM]

I keep reading the thread as TayJohn Salmons and not sure how I feel about it because I really liked John Salmons.

Can we just call him Dijon Salmon? I do like some Dijon Salmon.