Tidjane Saluan of Cholet Basket in France has declared as an Early Entry Candidate for the 2024 NBA Draft. Salaun won't turn 19 until mid-August, making him one of the younger prospects in this year's draft class.

In 48 games for Cholet Basket this season, the 6-foot-9 forward has averaged 9.6 points and 3.9 rebounds in 23.3 minutes per game. Salaun has shot 40.4% from the field, including 33% on three-pointers. The expectation is that Salaun's offensive game will round to complement his already good defense.

Salaun is projected to be lottery pick by most draft experts.

Thierry Darlan, who spent most of the season with G League Ignite, has declared as an Early Entry Candidate for the 2024 NBA Draft. The 20-year-old wing is currently playing for Bangui Sporting Club out of the Central African Republic in Basketball Africa League qualifiers.

With the Ignite, Darlan averaged 5.4 points and 3.7 rebounds in 19.1 minutes per game off the bench. The 6-foot-8 wing has shown better in BAL qualifiers. Darlan has averaged 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.3 blocks for Bangui Sporting Club.

Most draft experts have Darlan as being picked late in the second round or going undrafted.

Projected first overall pick Zaccharie Risacher has declared as an Early Entry Candidate for the 2024 NBA Draft. Risacher is widely mocked as a top pick, with most having him is the most likely player to be selected first overall.

Risacher is playing for JL Bourg in France, on a loan from fellow French club ASVEL. In 53 total games, the 6-foot-8 inch forward has averaged 10.5 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. Risacher has shot 45.7% overall, including 38.6% on 3.5 three-point attempts per game.

Risacher turned 18 in early April, which made him eligible to enter this year's draft. He was named to the French senior national team for EuroBasket 2025 qualifiers this past February. Risacher saw limited action in France's victory over Croatia and did not play in France's victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Memphis Grizzlies forward Yuta Watanabe took to Instagram Live to share his plans for next season. Watanabe said he's leaving the NBA to return home to play in his native Japan.

Watanabe said there are many factors in his decision, including it being best for his mental health. There were no indications of what team he intends to play for. Watanabe is also expected to play for Japan at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

The 6-foot-9 forward has a $2.6 million player option with the Grizzlies for next season, which it appears that he'll decline. Watanabe was acquired by Memphis from the Phoenix Suns in a trade deadline deal. In total, Watanabe has appeared in 213 regular season NBA games over six seasons with the Grizzlies, Suns, Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets.

Kenny Smith has been appointed as the head of Next Stars player program in North America for Australia's National Basketball League Next Stars initiative.

Smith will help recruit, develop, and mentor players in the league's Next Stars program.

"Legitimate pathways to the NBA are evolving, and the NBL has a proven track record of getting players drafted. The NBL identified a key role for me to mentor and support young talent and equip them with the tools to compete at a professional level with a view to making the leap into the NBA," said Smith.

Smith will also become a part owner of an NBL expansion team in the future.

Longtime Spanish star Rudy Fernandez announced that he'll retire following this season. Fernandez is completing his 13th season with Real Madrid. The 39-year-old guard initially joined the club for part of the 2011-12 season while the NBA was a lockout.

Fernandez played for Portland Trail Blazers from 2008 through 2011, before playing with the Denver Nuggets in 2011-12, after the lockout ended. Fernandez began his professional career with Joventut, for whom he played six seasons.

The 6-foot-6 guard was also a key part of the Spain national team. Fernandez first played for the senior team for the 2004 Olympics. He was a part of silver medal teams at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, as well a bronze medal team at the 2016 Olympics.

In addition to the Olympics success, Fernandez won four gold medals, one silver and one bronze across six Eurobasket competitions.

Kevin Porter Jr. signed with PAOK in the Greek Basketball League for the rest of the season, sources told Shams Charania and Kelly Iko of The Athletic.

Porter, who was waived in October, reached a plea deal in a domestic assault case.