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Charlotte Hornets reportedly cut Tidjane Salaün loose
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- Charlotte Hornets reportedly cut Tidjane Salaün loose
The Charlotte Hornets will not pick up the fourth-year option on forward Tidjane Salaün , the sixth overall pick in 2024.
The Oklahoma City Thunder also declined their option on guard Nikola Topić . Both moves were reported Sunday, ahead of Monday's deadline.
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Keith Smith, who tracks league transactions, noted that both teams skipped those options while picking up others . Charlotte did not announce a decision.
Its press release covered only Kon Knueppel and Liam McNeeley , and Salaün's name was missing. Oklahoma City, meanwhile, exercised options on Jared McCain and Thomas Sorber .
The Hornets were never going to pay $10.4 million for this
Salaün's option was worth about $10.4 million for 2027-28. Charlotte has a favorable cap situation next season , so money wasn't the obstacle.
Production was. Over 103 career games he averages 5.9 points and 4.3 rebounds on 39.2 percent shooting , and he has yet to start this season.
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Declining the option makes him an unrestricted free agent next summer. That could also make him a trade candidate. One Hornets writer suggests the decision makes him an intriguing name before February's deadline for anyone willing to bet on a 21-year-old forward.
The Thunder's move came a week after injuries to Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace and Chet Holmgren. Topić has been out of the picture. ESPN's Bobby Marks floated the idea that Topić may not factor this season and could be a trade chip down the road. Letting his option lapse closes the book on that.
Salaün's option was worth about $10.4 million for 2027-28. Jacob Kupferman / Getty Images
Where both players land next
Neither is done in the league. Salaün is young and athletic, and a team with cap space and patience could give him a bigger role.
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For Topić, the next year is about proving his health. Both will test the market with no rookie-scale leash, and both will have a full season to rebuild their value.
The bigger lesson for front offices is that a high draft slot no longer guarantees a fourth year. Charlotte is building around Brandon Miller's $209 million extension and Knueppel, and it doesn't have room for projects.
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This story was originally published by Lindy's Sports on Nov 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Lindy's Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
