The Charlotte Hornets are a team on the rise, although they are still a few years away from competing. Still, LaMelo Ball looks like one of the best young guards in the NBA, Brandon Miller, despite an extensive injury history, is promising, and Kon Knueppel is one of the best rookies this season.
Still, it’s rare that the Hornets catch a break. Ball, like Miller, is often injured, and not all of their draft picks hit.
Last year’s sixth overall pick, French forward Tidjane Salaün, has had a disappointing start to his NBA career. On November 3rd, the Hornets announced that he would not be joining them on their upcoming road trip.
GettyCHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 30: Tidjane Salaun #31 of the Charlotte Hornets dribbles during the second half of the game against the Chicago Bulls at Spectrum Center on December 30, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Charlotte Hornets Assign Tidjane Salaün to G League
The 2024 NBA Draft was not the best group of young players, and Salaün has still managed to disappoint.
Despite being picked sixth last year, he ranks 23rd in total points and 12th in assists and rebounds, and is one of the worst shooters in the draft class. It’s only been a year, but it’s clear that he is not a key piece moving forward.
For the third time in his career, the Hornets have assigned him to the Greensboro Swarm of the G League. He will miss their upcoming road games against the New Orleans Pelicans and Miami Heat.
This season, Salaün has averaged a lowly 3.1 points and 3.6 rebounds. As an oversized 6-foot-9 forward, he is shooting only 36.8% from the floor. The Hornets have plenty of building blocks to prioritize, and Salaün is quickly falling out of favor.
There’s hope that a stint in the G League will get him back on track, although history points to the opposite.
Salaün Hasn’t Found G League Success Before
In five G League games, Salaün has averaged 11.8 inefficient points and 7.6 rebounds.
Last January, he spent four games in Greensboro. After returning to Charlotte, he posted 6.1 points on 25.8% shooting from the floor in the following ten games.
Usually, being sent to the “minor leagues” offers players a chance to get added reps and gain some confidence. If anything, the opposite has been true for Salaün in the past. The Hornets, after drafting wings like Knueppel and Liam McNeeley this year, aren’t as attached to Salaün as most teams would be with lottery picks early in their careers.
As the Hornets continue to rebuild, it’s easier to see a future without Salaün in it than with him. Even when he was drafted, the pick was considered a reach, and talented players like Donovan Clingan, Matas Buzelis, Kel’el Ware, and Jared McCain were all still on the board.
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