Tidjane Salaün

The Hornets’ frontcourt is will be even thinner than usual on Sunday. Nick Richards has a chance to return from a one-game layoff but Taj Gibson will likely find himself back in the rotation if Richards is ruled out.

Salaun didn’t have a great shooting night, but he was still able to find a way to impact the game, which is what made the raw prospect an intriguing prospect for the Hornets. He’ll likely have to work through plenty of struggles as a rookie, especially early on. However, his high motor will help him see minutes for a young team that is looking to make a push for the postseason. Salaun likely won’t be a great fantasy option this year, but he has plenty of upside in dynasty formats.

Having missed the California Classic due to a left knee laceration, Salaun debuted on Saturday afternoon. He was tentative in the first half, but the rookie ramped things up in the second. With Brandon Miller likely done for the remainder of summer league (he played 33 minutes on Saturday), there should be more room for Salaun to make things happen offensively.

The sixth overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Salaun is dealing with a minor laceration that will keep him out of the Hornets’ summer minicamp. The team announced he would be available for the Vegas Summer League, but nothing was mentioned regarding the rookie’s availability for this week’s California Classic in Sacramento. Don’t expect to see Salaun in action until Las Vegas.