Ahead of this season, the Cleveland Cavaliers had a set rotation with their core group. De'Andre Hunter was part of that group, as he was projected as the starting small forward alongside Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen.
However, it appears that he will be the long-term sixth man, as sophomore wing Jaylon Tyson continues to impress. Even head coach Kenny Atkinson has projected a promising future for Tyson, especially if the Cavaliers meet their potential in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.
Atkinson believes in Tyson's potential to contribute
Tyson does not immediately stand out on the stat sheet because he is not a big-time contributor in terms of his numbers. However, he is quite decent with his 13.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and one steal per game.
He is the old-school type of role player, as he knows how to knock down shots when he's given the ball. Defensively, he is one of the Cavaliers' scrappiest players, so Atkinson can rely on him being a hard worker who will always be there to help the star players.
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Over the years, championship teams have had a lot of good role players. By looking at last season's Oklahoma City Thunder, players like Alex Caruso and Luguentz Dort were the scrappy players who helped the star players thrive.
"Sometimes, those no conscience guys thrive in the Playoffs, and I think he's that type of guy. He's unafraid, willing to take some risks, especially when he has his shot. You need that in the Playoffs because that hesitancy, he's got none of that. I haven't seen one bit of that," Atkinson said about Tyson's impact for the Cavaliers.
Moving forward, the Cavaliers will continue to feature Tyson as one of their top players. He has usurped Hunter as a starter, which is a positive development because they need some boosts off the bench.
Max Strus's absence is significant for Cleveland, so Tyson's rise matters even more. As long as the Cavaliers have the depth, they could catch up to their fellow preseason favorites, the New York Knicks, in the Eastern Conference standings. That is unlikely, but the Cavaliers have the talent to do so.
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