Eye of the Tiger: The Tidjane Salaun Thread

[JMAC3]

Tidjane now grading as the #1 rookie in Def EPM. 75% defender.

https://dunksandthrees.com/epm/actual

[MPM]

Tidjane now grading as the #1 rookie in Def EPM. 75% defender.

https://dunksandthrees.com/epm/actual

Slightly surprised but not shocked - active defender who's shown some quick hands (steals, deflections). Also see Moussa just ahead of Anthony Davis and Marcus Smart at +1.9

[Bassman]

Tidjane now grading as the #1 rookie in Def EPM. 75% defender.

https://dunksandthrees.com/epm/actual

Wow, we should start him over Miles

[MasterIchiro]

Tidjane now grading as the #1 rookie in Def EPM. 75% defender.

https://dunksandthrees.com/epm/actual

Awesome, we have a defensive specialist with pick 6.

[HornetJail]

let's be honest, everyone here would be thrilled if Salaun ever became half of MKG defensively

[MasterIchiro]

let's be honest, everyone here would be thrilled if Salaun ever became half of MKG defensively

Everyone, huh?

[JMAC3]

If he can shoot 35% from 3 and have impact on defense and rebounding then that is probably a top 10 player from last years draft class from the looks of it. Anything after that would be gravy.

Salaun with 8 and 9 rebounds in 2 of last three games when he played 17 and 23 mins in those games.

Everyone is so determined to prove he is terrible that when he does show flashes its not even brought up. I don't know if there has ever been a draft pick by this organization that people have been so out on so fast. People were hyping up Kai Jones after year 2 like he was about to break out.

[MasterIchiro]

If he can shoot 35% from 3 and have impact on defense and rebounding then that is probably a top 10 player from last years draft class from the looks of it. Anything after that would be gravy.

Salaun with 8 and 9 rebounds in 2 of last three games when he played 17 and 23 mins in those games.

Everyone is so determined to prove he is terrible that when he does show flashes its not even brought up. I don't know if there has ever been a draft pick by this organization that people have been so out on so fast. People were hyping up Kai Jones after year 2 like he was about to break out.

He'll have to learn how to put the ball on the floor to stop the defense from playing him to shoot a 3. So it's an uphill battle to reach 35% on a decent volume of attempts.

You see what happens when he puts the ball on the floor right? Or tries to create his own shot? Lobs a floater towards the backboard while drifting off-balance, off-center?

I'm confident he's going to remain a zero on offense.

[JMAC3]

If he can shoot 35% from 3 and have impact on defense and rebounding then that is probably a top 10 player from last years draft class from the looks of it. Anything after that would be gravy.

Salaun with 8 and 9 rebounds in 2 of last three games when he played 17 and 23 mins in those games.

Everyone is so determined to prove he is terrible that when he does show flashes its not even brought up. I don't know if there has ever been a draft pick by this organization that people have been so out on so fast. People were hyping up Kai Jones after year 2 like he was about to break out.

He'll have to learn how to put the ball on the floor to stop the defense from playing him to shoot a 3. So it's an uphill battle to reach 35% on a decent volume of attempts.

You see what happens when he puts the ball on the floor right? Or tries to create his own shot? Lobs a floater towards the backboard while drifting off-balance, off-center?

I'm confident he's going to remain a zero on offense.

You know how many players in the NBA have a job because they can make an open 3 and somewhat play defense? Maxi Kleber, DFS, Noah Clowney, AJ Green, Sam Hauser, Dean Wade, Batum, Trey Lyles... none of these dudes can dribble at all at this point in their career and they are fine to shoot 35% and see NBA minutes.

Salaun shot is better than the numbers say, his 3 pt volume is good, teams aren't just leaving him wide open on these shots.

Go watch someone like Anthony Black or Steph Castle play and the defense stops their closeout 3 feet short because they are daring those players to shoot. Salaun is a good enough shooter that defense isn't leaving him wide open.

The more I watch him the more I see the vision of him turning into a winning NBA player.

[Rich4114]

Maybe Salaun will one day develop into a capable NBA player. And I agree, he's decent on defense in certain situations, plays hard, goes for rebounds, etc. But offensively he is a major liability outside of catch and shoot 3's. I mean, once he dribbles into the paint I don't think he can see the defense in front of him and then randomly panics and tosses the ball up at the backboard without any flow or skill. Bro is RAW and needed like 2 seasons in GBO to try and develop. Problem is we went into the season with our 3 power forwards as Grant, Miles (who is a small PF) and Salaun (who should be stashed in GBO) - so no depth what so ever.

Again, Salaun costs us opportunities, possessions, etc. more than he helps them. Obviously, he's only 19 so I try to give the benefit of the doubt that he will improve over time but I think you need to accept just how far away from "not a liability on offense" he is.

[yosemiteben]

I continue to be encouraged with what I see from Salaun.

[Rich4114]

I continue to be encouraged with what I see from Salaun.

I think that's fair. But I also think we're at least 2 years away from him being a plus contributor to consistent winning. So even if we are improved next season then it is likely because Salaun is not really playing meaningful mins.

[amcoolio]

Two things can be true

1. Salaun is encouraging and is on the path to be a rotation player, despite the lack of talent in the draft

2. It's really lame we suffered through last season to pick a rotation player that we hope to get to Grant Williams's level in 5 years

[JMAC3]

Two things can be true

1. Salaun is encouraging and is on the path to be a rotation player, despite the lack of talent in the draft

2. It's really lame we suffered through last season to pick a rotation player that we hope to get to Grant Williams's level in 5 years

That is pretty much every team tho. Reed Sheppard just got sent to Gleague, Clingan is playing like 15 mpg, Cody Williams has been worse than Tidjane...

It is not like Charlotte is the lone team that isn't reaping benefits.

[KembaWalker]

the Bulls board has Buzelis comped to Brandon Miller and think he's easily a starter with all star ceiling so idk, maybe i am too negative. he seems about a garbage as Salaun to me lol

[JMAC3]

the Bulls board has Buzelis comped to Brandon Miller and think he's easily a starter with all star ceiling so idk, maybe i am too negative. he seems about a garbage as Salaun to me lol

Yeah the whole board is down on Salaun who was guaranteed lottery pick all process. Teams in the top 10 had him in for workouts.
It feels like people act like we took this kid with zero ability that nobody was looking at and made him the 6th overall pick.

Rockets fans are spinning Sheppard going to the Gleague as a good thing so he can get minutes, meanwhile Hornets fans are acting like Salaun playing 20 mpg in the NBA is the worst thing in the world for him.

[Rich4114]

Two things can be true

1. Salaun is encouraging and is on the path to be a rotation player, despite the lack of talent in the draft

2. It's really lame we suffered through last season to pick a rotation player that we hope to get to Grant Williams's level in 5 years

That is pretty much every team tho. Reed Sheppard just got sent to Gleague, Clingan is playing like 15 mpg, Cody Williams has been worse than Tidjane...

It is not like Charlotte is the lone team that isn't reaping benefits.

That's the only saving grace about Saulaun in that this draft was so bad. But really, if the plan was to not try and win this season then why not just take Topic.

[JMAC3]

Two things can be true

1. Salaun is encouraging and is on the path to be a rotation player, despite the lack of talent in the draft

2. It's really lame we suffered through last season to pick a rotation player that we hope to get to Grant Williams's level in 5 years

That is pretty much every team tho. Reed Sheppard just got sent to Gleague, Clingan is playing like 15 mpg, Cody Williams has been worse than Tidjane...

It is not like Charlotte is the lone team that isn't reaping benefits.

That's the only saving grace about Saulaun in that this draft was so bad. But really, if the plan was to not try and win this season then why not just take Topic.

Yeah I was a Topic fan, maybe they had bigger concerns on the knee then us.

6-9 guys that are pluses on defense and shooting upside aren't really that easy to find in the Gleague, 2nd round etc... The archetype for Salaun is where the NBA is trending so I get the appeal of being willing to invest in those types.

One thing I think we are really really bad on this board at is being able to identify proper expectations for players... aka a lot people had high expectations in the past for PJ Washington and James Bouknight who were 11th and 12th picks. When in reality that player if they ever become a top 7 guy on your team is probably a win in the draft pick digest. Big reason why Mark as pick 15 is a starting level player, that pick was by all accounts fantastic value.

Then on the flip side Brandon Miller who was the #2 pick, some thought he was heading for the Gleague or that if we signed Kelly Oubre that would prevent him from getting minutes. The expectation is that Miller will be an allstar someday when you pick him that high and he was always going to get 30 mpg no matter who was on the roster.

The expectation with Salaun as the 6th pick is never he SHOULD become an allstar. If he becomes a starter that is a great pick really in most draft classes let alone a historically bad draft. If he is a borderline allstar then fantastic but it feels like because we were so bad that many think that is the expectation of the #6 when that is setting you up for disappointment 80%+ of the time.

[Bassman]

Agree with previous comment about Salaun’s saving grace being this weak draft. Not many starters emerging, and no clear future all-star. I must say Sarr is making more progress than most as he adapts to the NBA game. Salaun just doesn’t have some of the needed attributes to become a key player. Bad handle, no hops are very limiting gaps. But he could become a decent role player/rotational piece after gaining experience.

[vorbis]

I think at the end of this season it will be healthy to stop looking at Salaün's career through the lens of opportunity cost. yes he was the 6th pick but more importantly he's a rookie and a developing player. I know it's anathema to many fans to move on from where he was selected in the draft, but now that he's on the roster they have to find a way for him to consistently impact games.

like others have said I like the tools he has displayed. I think he's displayed them very inconsistently, but often enough to think there's a consistent contributor in there somewhere. I'll take it.