3 reasons Jaylon Tyson is a dark-horse candidate for this season’s Rookie of the Year

Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Jaylon Tyson wasn’t a lottery pick in the 2024 NBA Draft (he went 20th overall), but he immediately showed in Summer League that he has the potential to be an impact player in Cleveland.

ESPN’s Kevin Pelton ranked Tyson as one of his three best rookies in Summer League, a massive honor for a player that wasn’t selected in the top half of the first round.

With the Cavs seemingly bringing back a similar roster to last season’s after extending Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley, as well as rebuffing trade calls for guard Darius Garland, Tyson could be a perfect fit on the wing or at a forward spot depending upon how Kenny Atkinson decides to build his rotation.

A three-year player in college, Tyson averaged 19.6 points per game in the 2023-24 season while shooting 36.0 percent from beyond the arc. In an NBA draft class that has been considered one of the worst in recent history, Tyson could be a steal for the Cavs that works his way into the Rookie of the Year conversation.

It won’t be easy since the Cavs are looking to contend for a title, but if Tyson proves he can be a rotation piece early, there is room for growth for him in Cleveland.

1. Starting 3 spot up for grabs

For any Rookie of the Year campaign, a player needs to have adequate playing time for that to happen.

Luckily for Tyson, the Cavs could have an opening in their rotation. Even though Cleveland feels that it has made multiple reasonable offers to restricted free agent forward Isaac Okoro, the former lottery pick has yet to re-sign with the franchise.

If Okoro doesn’t remain with the Cavs, that would immediately open up some minutes at the small forward/wing spot. Plus, with a new head coach in Atkinson taking over, there are other role players like Max Strus, Dean Wade and Caris LeVert who may need to earn the trust of their new head coach before walking back into their roles from last season.

The Cavs have been searching for a running mate alongside Mitchell, Garland, Mobley and Jarrett Allen, and Tyson – if he plays well in training camp and the preseason – could have a chance to prove he’s worthy of a look in that spot.

Okoro leaving would open up the biggest opportunity, as the young forward played 27.3 minutes per game last season. Tyson is certainly going to need to earn a role, but if he does, he fits very well alongside the Cavs’ four best players.

2. Summer League standout

The first real glimpse Cavs fans were able to get at Tyson in an NBA setting came in Summer League earlier this month.

The rookie forward did more than just impress, he thrived for the Cavs, averaging 15.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game while shooting 58.8 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from 3-point range.

Tyson’s efficiency shooting the ball is something that jumps off the page, especially if one projects what his role could be in the Cavs’ lineup next season.

If Tyson can shoot the ball at a high rate from 3-point range, it would be a massive boost to the Cavs offense. Mitchell and Garland are great at creating open looks for their teammates, and the Cavs certainly want a knockdown shooter alongside them in the lineup.

If Tyson can stand out above others in terms of 3-point accuracy, it may earn him more playing time in the 2024-25 season.

Plus, he showed in his last collegiate season that he can average nearly 20 points per game while shooting efficiently from the field (46.5 percent) and from 3 (36.0 percent).

Since Tyson likely won’t play a lead role like some other rookies on worse teams, he’ll need to make the most of his chances to be in contention for the Rookie of the Year award. His efficient play in Summer League is certainly a positive ahead of the regular season.

3. No draft class favorites

There have been questions about the talent in this rookie class, which benefits a player like Tyson who was picked later in the first round and may not have as much buzz around him when it comes to the Rookie of the Year award.

In the 2023 NBA Draft, phenom Victor Wembanyama – the eventual Rookie of the Year – was touted as a generational prospect. The previous offseason in the 2022 NBA Draft, Paolo Banchero (the eventual Rookie of the Year), Jabari Smith and Chet Holmgren (the runner up for Rookie of the Year in the 2023-24 season due to an injury the previous season) were all thought of as great prospects at the top of the draft, with Banchero passing Smith late in the process to end up as the No. 1 pick.

That isn’t really the case with the 2024 NBA Draft class, which leaves the Rookie of the Year award somewhat open.

There are players that may immediately step into bigger roles than Tyson, but there is no guarantee that they will thrive in them.

Tyson must prove that he deserves minutes early on to be in contention for this award, but his promising play in the summer makes him an intriguing option as an under-the-radar candidate.