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The usual secret to Gregg Popovich starting a dynasty is having two insanely talented big men. Victor Wembanyama is already projected to be one of the greatest players of all time if he continues his upward trajectory. So, who’s next? The 2024 NBA Draft brings the San Antonio Spurs a lot of options. But, another French phenomenon seems to be a standout among the rest. He goes by the name of Tidjane Salaun.
Another French prospect might land in the hands of the Spurs. Yes, it could all be a possibility that Gregg Popovich assembles yet another duo like David Robinson and Tim Duncan. They currently have the eighth overall pick and there have been increasing beliefs that Tidjane Salaun could be the next big thing for the team from Texas, via ESPN.
“After talking with numerous NBA teams about Salaun this week, it seems he’s much closer to being a top-10 pick than the late lottery candidate he is currently ranked in the ESPN Top 100 at No. 10. Several teams are flagging the San Antonio Spurs at No. 8 as a real landing potential spot for Salaun,” reports said.
Gregg Popovich’s type of dynasty is not the only thing that ties this all together. Victor Wembanyama knows Tidjane Salaun well. They both share the same agent and their sisters have been teammates for France’s FIBA Under-16 squad.
The two are able to complement each other very well. Coach Pop knows how defensively versatile Wemby is. The same goes for Salaun but his offensive arsenal is the one that is most elite.
Spurs have a golden opportunity in the NBA Draft
The first thing that they have to address in acquiring a new player is the fit. One glaring spot that they need to improve on is either another center or a better power forward. Wemby can play drop coverage very well and it was evident in his rookie campaign where he got a Defensive Player of the Year finalist nod. So, they may need a roamer that acts as a primary rim protector whenever The Alien is drawn out of the paint. Zach Collins and Dominick Barlow have not yet come into form with the Spurs. So, Salaun would be a big help.
Offensively speaking, he can also shoot the lights out. While the NBA Draft Combine was going on, Salaun was blazing it up at the LNB Pro A. He notched an insane stat line of 19 points, eight rebounds, and three assists. His defensive prowess was also on display as Salaun anticipated the movements of the primary ball handler well to get a steal.
He will still have to duke it out with top NBA Draft pick Zaccharie Risacher in the quarterfinals. Here, these two will get to test each other to the limit before they step into the league. The focus will be on their matchup for draft enthusiasts and European fans.
The Spurs may already know who they’re picking if someone falls to them at number eight. Will any squad try to steal Salaun from them?
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