Jaylon Tyson might be the Cleveland Cavaliers' best option as the starting small forward.
Given the way the Cleveland Cavaliers' roster currently looks, the team's best chance of getting back to the Eastern Conference Finals will come from internal development and more time to mesh with the players already on it.
Out of everyone, the Cavaliers need to take a jump next season and excel in their role; it's Jaylon Tyson.
Now, yes, Tyson already made a massive improvement from his rookie to his sophomore season.
Last year, the second-year forward averaged 13.2 points and 5.1 rebounds while shooting 49 percent from the floor and 44.6 percent from behind the arc after averaging 3.6 points the year before.
This growth was a welcome sign for Cleveland and even earned Tyson a spot on the Rising Stars roster during All-Star Weekend.
With all that in mind, the Cavaliers might just need Tyson to be the team's starting small forward heading into next season.
Even with the addition of forward and Mario Hezonja, and if the Cavaliers can land free agent Jonathan Kuminga, Tyson's best role would be starting alongside Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, and likely James Harden.
Feb 25, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Jaylon Tyson (20) during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn ImagesRight now, Tyson is one of, if not the best, perimeter defenders the Cavaliers have on their roster.
Plus, the forward floor spacing ability makes him the best player to pair with the rest of the starting group. Tyson shot 44.6 percent on catch-and-shoot threes last season, which was fourth-best in the NBA.
The good news is that, statistically, Tyson was better as a starter than coming off the bench. Last year, he had an offensive rating of 121 and shot 45 percent from three in his 42 games as a starter, and an offensive rating of 110 in games coming off the bench.
However, for a variety of reasons, Tyson's numbers dipped after the All-Star Break. This had to do with injuries and the Cavaliers trading for players who jumped him in the depth chart.
With Cleveland looking like it'll bring back mostly the same roster next year, the Cavaliers could rely on Tyson to play a key role in the starting five. He also fell out of the rotation during the postseason.
The third-year forward has shown he can do it, but now the Wine and Gold need Tyson to put it all together during an entire season.
