Report: Utah Jazz Draft an NBA wing/forward from the french
Predicted to be chosen in the lottery of the 2024 NBA Draft—the Utah Jazz hold the tenth pick—is French forward Tidjane Salaun.
The Jazz can bolster their already youthful core by adding quality players to their draft selections—they control three of the top 32 picks in the 2024 draft.
If Salaun were to arrive in Utah in late June, this is how he would fit in with the Jazz.
Drafted by the Utah Jazz: Tidjane Salaun, F-Cholet
Stats:.406/.316/.748; 9.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 0.9 assists
Strengths: Salaun is one of the few players better suited to address that need on both ends of the court in this year’s draft, as the NBA is shifting its emphasis to creating space on offense and erasing space on defense.
Salaun has excellent size for an NBA wing/forward, measuring just under 6-foot-9 with a wingspan of 7 feet 1 and a standing reach of 9 feet 2. He also possesses the athleticism to go along with his remarkable physical build.
On the defensive end, the French forward is a tireless worker who rotates around the perimeter, covering a lot of territory, shutting down on shooters, and jumping passing lanes for easy steals.
Despite only playing 23 minutes a game in France, Salaun averaged 1.1 steals per game and blocked other players’ passes when they failed to attempt to throw the ball to his man.
Off the ball, the 18-year-old is a natural defender who closes spaces on the floor with his physical skills and denies shooters a chance to kick it out.
Despite his relatively poor shooting percentage for a player of his size, Salaun made two or more three-pointers in fifteen of his final twenty-seven games played for Cholet, including a scorching nine-game run from early December to mid-February, where he went 24-45.
Salaun makes rapid judgments off the catch, passing the ball to his teammates, shooting, or attacking closeouts, even if he can grow restless when trying to score.
In contrast to certain prospects who play basketball purely because of their exceptional physical attributes, Salaun brings a passion for the game to the game that is uncommon in 18-year-olds.
Weaknesses: Salaun mostly played off the ball with Cholet because he is still a raw basketball player.
For extended periods of the game, the forward would be positioned in the corner as a floor spacer and would not have the same ability to create shots for himself as some of the predicted lottery wings did in college in the G League last season.
Salaun’s weak hands and loose handle when hitting the paint contributed to his limited offensive role.
Despite having strong physical attributes, the forward frequently mishandled the ball in traffic or got stripped when he got into the paint.
In order to advance offensively, Salaun will also need to strengthen his focus and strength when handling the ball after missing several easy lob attempts.
The wing has never blocked a shot in his basketball career, despite having been assigned as a perimeter defender. He only recorded seven blocks in 33 games.
As Salaun struggled to adjust to playing defense against more experienced players, he frequently found himself in foul trouble.
In the draft, might Tidjane Salaun fit in with the Jazz?
With his size and athleticism valued highly, Salaun can find a place on any NBA team’s roster, including the Jazz.
Salaun is one of the rarest players in this year’s draft class because of his unique combination of physical tools, athleticism, and shooting upside. At just 18 years old, he has some of the highest upside of any player.
The French forward will probably need a few more years to make an impact in the NBA, but like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bilal Coulibaly, he might still be developing and possess even superior physical attributes by the time he’s prepared to play.
If Salaun can’t develop his hands and establish consistency in his three-point shot, there is a chance that he will be a bust; yet, his defensive upside may make up for any deficiencies in his offensive game.
