Hornets sign No. 6 pick Tidjane Salaün to first-round contract

The Charlotte Hornets announced on Wednesday that they signed Frenchman Tidjane Salaün, the sixth overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft, to his rookie-scale contract.

He will make $6,240,600 next season as the sixth pick.

Salaün averaged 9.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 54 games last season across all competitions with Cholet Basket of the LNB Elite League. He played the previous two campaigns for Espoirs Cholet in the under-21 league.

The 18-year-old dazzled in the French League playoffs, averaging 13.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in three games against Paris. He had his best outing in Game 1 after recording 19 points, eight rebounds, three assists and one steal in a win.

The team announced this week that Salaün will miss the California Classic in Sacramento after suffering a minor laceration near his knee. He is expected to be available to play in the NBA Summer League beginning on July 13 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

He will be joined by roster players Brandon Miller, Nick Smith Jr. and Leaky Black in Las Vegas, along with undrafted free agents RaeQuan Battle, Kevin Cross Jr. and Malik Hall, among others.