With lineup tweaks looming, Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson raved about one young role player's potential impact for the upcoming season

For most of the 2024-25 NBA season the Cleveland Cavaliers could really do no wrong. Head coach Kenny Atkinson pulled all the right strings en route to a 64-win season and the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. 

The playoffs, however, were a different story. After breezing through the regular season expectations were sky high, until they ran into a buzz saw in the Indiana Pacers in the second round and were eliminated in six games. It was undoubtedly a disappointing ending to a promising year, which then brought some notable changes to the Cavs roster this summer. 

New faces like Lonzo Ball and Larry Nance Jr. are expected to play pivotal roles for Cleveland this season. But year two of the Kenny Atkinson experience will also depend on some familiar faces who are hoping to develop. There may be no player that falls into category more than Jaylon Tyson. 

Tyson was the team's first-round pick in 2024, but was buried on a deep roster this past season and saw only limited action. That could change immensely this year. Atkinson all but guaranteed it. 

"Jaylon Tyson has been – we keep saying his NBA skills how hard he plays every possession and that's kind of like role players in this league, that's kind of what you have to do," Atkinson said during a pre-camp presser earlier in the week. "I think he's had a phenomenal offseason. I'm really excited, I want the games to start now so we can get a real feel where he is. But my gut says he's gonna be a real contributor on this team." 

At the same press conference president of basketball operations Koby Altman continued to emphasize the importance of Atkinson and his coaches prioritizing internal development for his team. Tyson is arguably at the top of that list for Cleveland this year. 

Last season, the Cal product appeared in 47 games, averaging 3.6 points, .9 assists and 2 rebounds per game. He shot 43% from the floor and 34% from three. In the final game of the regular season, Tyson scored a career. high 31 points in a double overtime loss to the Pacers. 

With the Cavs moving on from players like Ty Jerome and Issac Okoro this offseason, though, Atkinson will be counting on Tyson to provide a spark off the bench this season. What exactly his role looks like will take shape in the coming weeks of camp and the preseason.