French forward Tidjane Salaun is among the top three international prospects in the 2024 NBA draft. Salaun is an early-entry NBA draft candidate whose defense is ahead of his offense. Salaun finished his first season with Cholet Baskets strong and was named the 2023-24 Basketball Champions League Best Young Player. He is among the youngest prospects in the 2024 draft, as he doesn’t turn 19 until August 10.
Tidjane Salaun 2024 Draft Profile
International career
Salaun comes from a basketball family. Both of his parents played the game. His sister, Janelle Salaun, plays professionally in France and is on the French national squad.
Salaun began his professional career in 2021 at 16 with Espoir Cholet in the French U21 league. He spent most of the 2022-23 campaign with Espoir Cholet but was called up to Cholet’s senior team, where he appeared in three games. During that season, he was selected as an Addidas Next Generation Top 5 award winner at the Patras Tournament.
Salaun spent all of this season with Cholet Baskets in the Jeep Elite League and participated in the Basketball Champions League. In 54 appearances, Salaun averaged 9.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.0 steals over 23.4 minutes of action. He also made 1.3 treys a game while compiling shooting splits of 40.6/31.6/74.8%.
Salaun finished the season strong. Salaun scored in double-figures in 10 of his last 17 games while also producing his lone double-double during this stretch. He also posted his lone double-double and grabbed at least 10 boards twice.
Strengths
The talented 6-9 combo forward possesses freakish athleticism and impressive physical attributes. He has big hands, a 7-foot-1 wingspan, and a 207-pound frame that still has the potential to grow. He has solid perimeter skills that fit well in the modern NBA.
Salaun is a three-level scorer with a high motor and explosiveness. While Saaluan still has work to do offensively, his jumper has become more consistent, and he now has an excellent mid-range game that includes a variety of moves.
Salaun has shown improvement from beyond the arc and is proficient from deep in catch-and-shoot situations, which makes him a pick-and-pop threat. However, his mobility and fluid movement off the ball are his best attributes, as he scores most of his points off of cuts and slashing to the basket.
Salaun is a good offensive rebounder.
Weaknesses
Salaun has not played competitive basketball for a long time, so he is still relatively raw and doesn’t have a great feel for the game. His most pressing areas of development are decision-making and ball-handling. This past campaign, he totaled just 48 assists and committed 69 turnovers.
Offensively, Salaun must also improve as a self-creator, playmaker, and finisher at the rim. While Salaun is a capable slasher, he still needs polish as a finisher. Part of his struggles at the rim is that he shies away from contact and lacks strength. Shot selection also has been an issue.
Defensively, Salaun needs to work on his footwork. He is not a great defensive rebounder and lacks the instinct to be an elite rim protector.
NBA Comparison
Salaun’s keyword is potential. He is very young and has the attributes to grow his game. His athleticism, length, and motor skills are particularly appealing.
That said, Salaun’s game does possess similar qualities to several NBA players who have spent several years in the Association as role players. He compares to Michael Porter Jr., Otto Porter Jr., Al-Farouq Aminu, and Jonas Jerebko.
2024 NBA Draft Projection
The San Antonio Spurs, who hold the No. 8 pick, have recently been intrigued by Salaun’s upside. The Spurs are one of the more progressive NBA organizations that look to the future rather than the present. However, the eighth pick seems a little high for him, even in what is considered a weak draft.
Salaun probably slates more in the 12-t0-20 range with the higher end due to teams willing to take a little risk.
