Cavaliers hoping Jaylon Tyson can be the X-factor they need

Jaylon Tyson ‘s play as a rookie and in the Las Vegas summer league has made life very interesting for Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman and coach Kenny Atkinson.

Basically, the Cavs pretty much have to play the guy. And that will be the idea heading into training camp at the end of next month. Tyson will likely enter the season as an expected part of the regular rotation.

It’s one reason the Cavs felt comfortable trading Isaac Okoro to the Chicago Bulls (for Lonzo Ball). Since Ball is a point guard, and Tyson is more of a wing, those Okoro minutes will be available.

Tyson is the natural pick to fill them. So what happens from here is up to Tyson. Altman and Atkinson are hopeful he can take the next step.

Tyson, 22, already knows all this.

“I think my rookie season went really well,” he told SI.com. “Not in terms of playing time. Obviously, I didn’t get the most opportunity in the world.

“But I did get some opportunity and I thought it went really well. Just the amount of things that I learned. When I go back and look at it, I know it’s going to suit me well down my career.”

Tyson is right. Opportunities were understandably limited for a rookie on a 64-18 team with championship dreams. When that’s the case, you roll out t he veterans. So Tyson mostly sat and watched, appearing in 47 games (many involving garbage time) and averaging 3.7 points.

But in 2025-26, Tyson will be one of those vets. At 6-foot-5, he can handle the ball, set up others, play with energy and bang with the bigs down low. He just needs some experience when it matters, in the game’s biggest moments.

Atkinson has already indicated as much to Tyson himself.

“He just told me, ‘You had a great rookie season. Everything we asked you to do, you did it, above and beyond,'” Tyson said. “He just loves my game and feels like eventually I’m going to get an opportunity and I’ve just got to be ready for it.”

Alt man also has held conversations with Tyson, making him aware of the team’s hopes and expectations in Tyson’s second season.

With camp right around the bend, that opportunity has arrived. The minutes are there. Tyson has shown major flashes that he can fill them. 

So if you’re looking for an X factor on this year’s Cavs, this just might be your guy.