Hornets Decline Tidjane Salaun's Rookie Contract Option
Charlotte will not exercise its 2027-28 team option on the No. 6 overall pick from the 2024 NBA Draft.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Basketball
The Charlotte Hornets chose not to pick up the 2027-28 rookie contract team option on Tidjane Salaun on Sunday. Assuming no change before the option deadline, Salaun will not be on the Hornets roster next season.
Why it matters
The decision signals that Charlotte is not planning to keep the former No. 6 overall pick beyond his current rookie deal. It leaves the franchise without a long-term commitment to a player it selected in the first round just two years ago.
Salaun has appeared in 103 NBA games, averaging 5.9 points and 4.3 rebounds in 18.4 minutes per game. He has shot 39.2% from the field and 33.0% from three-point range over his career.
The players
Tidjane Salaun
Tidjane Salaun is a French forward drafted sixth overall by the Charlotte Hornets in 2024.
Charlotte Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets are the NBA franchise based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the team that drafted Salaun.
The details
The Hornets selected Salaun with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, and he made 10 starts as a rookie. The team declined the team option on his 2027-28 contract on Sunday, subject to the deadline for exercising it.
Timeline
The Hornets drafted Salaun with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
The Hornets declined the 2027-28 rookie contract team option on Sunday, November 1, 2026.
The option decision becomes final if no change is made before the deadline.
Salaun is not expected to be on the Hornets roster for the 2027-28 season.
Roadmap
Teams drafting in the top ten have historically faced this decision after two seasons, when rookie options can be declined to avoid a larger salary commitment. The Hornets' choice places Salaun in the same position as other former lottery picks whose early production did not justify a longer commitment.
The decision removes Salaun from Charlotte's expected 2027-28 rotation, so fantasy managers tracking the young forward should plan around his absence. Roster construction for next season will shift as the team evaluates its frontcourt options.
The takeaway
Young players drafted high often need several seasons to show their full value, and team options give franchises a clear checkpoint to reassess. Readers tracking rookie development should watch how early production translates into long-term roster decisions.
What happens next
The Hornets' decision becomes final if no change is made before the rookie contract option deadline.
Further reading
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Source note: This article includes information reported by Heavy.
