After an incredibly underwhelming rookie season from former No. 6 overall pick Tidjane Salaun, the Charlotte Hornets were expecting more during the 2025-26 campaign. Unfortunately for Salaun, various injuries and Charlotte's unexpected success caused the Frenchman to make even fewer appearances as a sophomore.

Throughout the year, Salaun played in 37 games, averaging six points, four rebounds, 0.7 assists and 0.4 steals. While many will look at Salaun's stats and see regression, it's worth noting how rare it is for a second-year player to average five fewer minutes per game than their rookie campaign. Taking this into account, Salaun actually showed notable improvement, especially in terms of efficiency. His 3-point percentage jumped from a meager 28.3% to 43.4%, and his field goal percentage improved from 33% to 50.3%. This proves that Salaun's development is transpiring, but it may not be taking place quickly enough, as the Hornets seem to be just a couple moves away from a top-six seed in the Eastern Conference. Either way, with poor perceived trade value, it doesn't hurt to keep Salaun on the roster for another year, especially while on his rookie deal.

This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Hornets 2025-26 player grades: Tidjane Salaun