Cavs' Jaylon Tyson Named Dark Horse Candidate to Win Big NBA Award Next Season

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Jaylon Tyson was named a dark horse candidate to win the 2026-27 Most Improved Player of the Year award by NBA analyst Dan Favale of Bleacher Report. 

Tyson could have a big role on the Cavaliers next season since Dean Wade left for the Philadelphia 76ers, LeBron James signed with the 76ers instead of coming home and Max Strus could get traded. 

"Tyson's importance to the Cavs is on the verge of skyrocketing," Favale wrote. "If the season began today, he'd rank as their most important (and capable) perimeter defender, guaranteeing him a crack at plenty of high-leverage minutes. 

"Working off a year in which he shot 44.6 percent from deep and almost 50 percent on drives, there's more to his offensive bag as well. Though someone running alongside James Harden and Donovan Mitchell shouldn't expect too much on-ball usage, additional reps will be up for grabs."

Tyson appeared in 66 games last season. He averaged 13.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while shooting 49.3% from the field, 44.6% from beyond the arc and 73.8% from the free-throw line. 

In the 2026 playoffs, where the Cavaliers lost to the New York Knicks in the conference finals in four games, Tyson put up 4.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. 

If the Cavaliers trade Strus and don't get Jonathan Kuminga, Peyton Watson or DeMar DeRozan, Tyson will probably start next season alongside Harden, Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. That would be a great opportunity for Tyson to showcase his skills next to four All-Stars. 

Cleveland's current schedule for next season features 80 regular-season games, including 17 weekend home dates comprised of two Friday games, nine Saturday games and six Sunday games.

Two additional games will be added at a later date pending the outcome of Emirates NBA Cup matchups to complete the 82-game regular-season slate.

The Cavaliers have 17 national television games next season. They are currently scheduled to match up against each Eastern Conference opponent four times, except Boston (one home, two away), Charlotte (one home, two away), Miami (two home, one away), Orlando (one home, two away), Philadelphia (two home, one away) and Washington (two home, one away).

Cleveland opens next season against LeBron and the 76ers in Philadelphia. That will be an electric atmosphere.