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• NBA Draft: List of picks, trades

The Hornets entered the 2024 NBA Draft with the No. 6 and No. 42 overall picks.

No. 6 pick: Tidjane Salaun

In 2021, Salaun joined Cholet Basket, part of the LNB Espoirs (French U21 league). During 2023 NBA All-Star Weekend, he showed off his skill at the Basketball Without Borders camp. Notably, he was named MVP of the 2023 Trophy of the Future tournament, averaging 17.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. He officially joined Cholet’s senior team in 2023.

Salaun also played in the 2023 FIBA U18 European Championship for the France national team. In 2023-24, across 49 appearances for Cholet, he averaged 9.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 23.2 minutes.

The 6-foot-9 forward has intrigued scouts with his combination of fluidity and shooting touch. He’s smooth in transition and cutting to the basket, while he can also knock down looks from deep. He went a modest 68-for-211 (32%) in 2023-24 but 61-for-168 (36%) in 2022-23 and 27-for-77 (35%) in 2021-22. Salaun is mostly a finisher as he totaled 44 assists to 64 turnovers last year. On defense, he isn’t a showstopper but he has a 7-foot-2 wingspan and competes with good athleticism. — RotoWire. Go deeper.

No. 42 pick: KJ Simpson

There are two ways to analyze Simpson. He’s a player who can impact the game on offense with his passing and scoring, but he’s not as advanced on the defensive end. Simpson has developed into a legit NBA prospect during his three seasons at Colorado.

His ability to lead the offense, his above-average decision-making, and his solid skill set as a scorer make him a real threat on the offensive end since he’s capable of performing as a three-level scorer with efficiency. However, at 6-feet and with a slender build, Simpson will be physically disadvantaged at the NBA level against bigger and stronger players. — RotoWire. Go deeper.