Progress Report: Tyson shines for Cavaliers

Tyson delivered a strong performance.

The 2024 Las Vegas Summer League had been rather uneventful for the Cleveland Cavaliers before tonight.

Jaylon Tyson

The 20th overall pick in the recent NBA Draft finally delivered a performance worth getting excited about. Jaylon Tyson was a steady contributor in his first three outings but nearly notched a triple double in his breakout game.

Tyson scored 21 points on just nine field goal attempts — an efficient shooting night to go with 11 rebounds, 9 assists and 2 steals. He was given ball-handling responsibilities for the first time and responded with immediate results. Tyson generated open looks throughout as his ability to create advantages was fully displayed.

Only so much can be learned from a single Summer League game but this was as encouraging of a performance as we have seen from anyone on the Cavs roster.

Emoni Bates

Emoni Bates began the night hot but quickly fizzled out, finishing 4-18 and missing the final three field goals with a chance to take the lead. Bates has struggled to score efficiently throughout his young career and has yet to make a meaningful leap so far in Las Vegas.

The Cavaliers have allowed Bates to work on his craft through reps in the G-League. There has been an emphasis on playing without the ball and simplifying his shot diet. While Bates has occasionally struck the perfect balance — tonight was an example of his worst tendencies taking over.

It’s hard not to root for Bates. He’s an undeniably gifted shooter and has worked relentlessly to follow the developmental path laid in front of him. With that said, Bates still has a long way to go. Generating clean offense should not be this much of an obstacle for a player competing in his second Summer League. The 20-year-old sharpshooter will remain on everyone’s radar but likely spend the upcoming season with the Charge once again.

Pete Nance

It has not been a superb Summer League for Pete Nance. He’s been mostly out of position and a step too slow defensively. This, along with his poor finishing in the paint, has made Nance a tough prospect to watch.

Nance posted 16 points (7-16 shooting), 3 rebounds and 2 assists in 32 minutes. His paint presence has been absent for a starting center, providing little authority on either end of the floor. He knocked down a pair of triples but ultimately failed to be an effective offensive spark at the end of a close game.

His intrigue as a potential floor spacer is not so interesting when packaged with the rest of his game. In today’s NBA, shooting is no longer a guarantee for success. You need to have numerous other skills — with a touch of three-point shooting being a non-negotiable for most role players. Nance has a little bit of range but none of the other tools that would be required for him to make the NBA leap.