The young Cleveland Cavaliers wrapped up Summer League with a 2-3 record.
While Summer League may not have ended with a championship like the previous year, numerous positive performances should fill Cavs fans with optimism and excitement for the upcoming season.
Jaylon Tyson
In particular, Jaylon Tyson was a standout amongst the whole league. He averaged 15.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game.
Despite not being recognized on the All-Summer League teams, Tyson demonstrated his ability to make consistent plays with the ball. Notably, the use of his offhand stood out. He looked comfortable and patient, attacking downhill and fluidly getting to his left hand.
During his most productive game against the Lakers, Tyson threw an elegant pass that should be on repeat for the Cavs faithful. He uses his pivot foot during a post-up to gain an advantage, and when the help comes, he fires a dime for a free dunk. What makes this play so eye-catching is the fluidity and decisiveness of his movements.
In this game, Jaylon recorded 21 points on 6-of-9 shooting, with 11 rebounds and nine assists.
Tyson shot 15 threes throughout Summer League, converting on six. That 40% mark would be a welcomed sight to a team desperate for shooting. If Tyson can mold himself into this level of a shooter, then his value rises and could easily find himself apart of the playoff rotation.
Emoni Bates
The former 49th overall pick had a mixed bag during his second Summer League appearance.
Emoni was aggressively searching for scoring opportunities while balancing some playmaking duties. Bates noticeably played with more grit and displayed an improved ability to play through contact, posting a solid 16.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.
Where Bates impressed the most was his playmaking. Last year at Summer League, he ended with a 5.9 AST% (the percentage of teammate field goals a player assisted on while they are on the floor). This year, it upticked to 17.1%. This jump was even more impressive considering he played two less games and 89 less minutes.
Emoni seemed more comfortable driving in traffic and playing off bumps, which could be attributed to his recent weight gain.
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This development is crucial for the Cavs. Cleveland could have the long-term small forward they’re looking for. Bates might find himself in more NBA regular-season games as his weight is less of a concern this time around.
Luke Travers
The 56th pick in the 2022 draft has yet to make his NBA debut since being drafted.
He has been playing in the NBL (Australia) since 2019. The hope is that he could help provide a bench boost with his unique passing skills and rebounding aggression.
While Travers hasn’t shown much accuracy from three-point range, he has his eyes seemingly everywhere on the court. He can spot open players in any direction while moving in any direction.
Additionally, Travers presented some nice drives off the catch and thrived in transition. These skills could serve Cleveland well should they decide to finally bring him to the NBA.
Travers averaged 8.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists across 23.2 minutes per game this summer.
Closing Thoughts
One of the bigger takeaways from this summer has been the playmaking by the young Cavaliers. Under Kenny Atkinson, these types of skills seem to be highlighted. If the young wings can prove to be consistent enough, the transition to the NBA should be smooth.
Despite a rather quiet off-season, Cleveland might be one of those dark-horse teams that show out when the season restarts.
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