Tidjane Salaun 2024 NBA Draft Projection: Player comparison & projected draft pick for Cholet Basket forward
French prospect Tidjane Salaun is expected to be an early first-round pick in Wednesday's NBA draft. While it's unclear how high or low he will go, the expectation is that he will be a lottery pick with the potential to land in the top ten. The forward from France played in LNB Pro A last season.
While he could be a project for whatever team drafts him rather than a generational talent, his numbers from last season are promising. Over 33 games, Salaun averaged 9.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game with 1.0 assists.
He averaged 37.3% from the field and 32.9% from downtown. While he shines on offense, his defense leaves a bit to be desired. However, he makes up for that with heart and a 7'2 wingspan.
Unsurprisingly, he has drawn the eye of fans and analysts ahead of the first round of the NBA draft. Considering his frame and play, he has drawn similarities to Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara and Al-Farouq Aminu.
With that in mind, let's look at his strengths and weaknesses compared to both players and his draft projection.
Tidjane Salaun vs Toumani Camara/Al-Farouq Aminu strengths
Tidjane Salaun shines on the offensive end of the floor. Whether cutting to the basket for an athletic finish or pulling up from downtown, Salaun's offensive versatility sets him apart from his peers.
His finishing has earned him comparisons to Toumani Camara of the Portland Trail Blazers. Before entering the league, Camara was praised for his ability to get to the hoop and finish; however, his shot needed work.
As Salaun's shot seems to be coming together nicely, he has also been compared to NBA vet Al-Farouq Aminu. While in the later stages of his career, Aminu struggled to maintain his efficiency from downtown, he finished his career as a 33.2% three-point shooter.
At his best, he averaged 36.1% from downtown for the 2015-16 season, a target that would earn Salaun praise if he reached it.
Tidjane Salaun vs Toumani Camara/Al-Farouq Aminu weaknesses
Tidjane Salaun's biggest weakness is his defense. While he makes up for it with athleticism and gritty play, he will have to make strides on defense after entering the league.
In addition, Salaun also doesn't rebound at the same rate as many of his peers at the forward spot. Here, he can draw inspiration from Toumani Camara, who has a similar build and has earned praise for his defense around the rim.
His play is closer to Al-Farouq Aminu than Camara, given that Aminu wasn't regarded as a talented rim protector. However, what Aminu did well that Salaun can try to emulate is his efficiency on the glass.
Tidjane Salaun 2024 NBA Draft Projection
While it's unlikely that the San Antonio Spurs use the fourth pick of the NBA draft on Salaun, the team could revisit him with the No. 8 pick. While he certainly wouldn't be ready to hit the ground running as Victor Wembanyama did, he has shown flashes of brilliance that may be worth consideration at No. 8.
Depending on who is available for San Antonio at No. 4, the French duo of Wembanyama and Salaun could be a good fit for the Spurs.