Would Hunter Tyson be a good get for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2023 NBA Draft?

Could the Cleveland Cavaliers take Hunter Tyson in the 2023 NBA Draft?

The Cleveland Cavaliers are not a team with a lot of expendable resources at the moment. They lack a lot due to the Donovan Mitchell trade, and so the assets they do have need to be protected. I say that to say this; the Cavs are rumored to be moving up into the first round, and one of the assets they have is the 2023 second-round pick. I’m not a fan of moving the pick.

I would love a first-round pick, but I want the Cavs to get the first and keep the second. If they have to sacrifice one for the other, what’s the point? The Cavs need both a first and to keep this second-round pick. They need two new rookies, especially with the way the collective bargaining agreement the NBA agreed to will limit movement by teams who push their way into the luxury tax.

They need young, inexpensive but talented players, and one of those players that is currently getting talked about right now by Cleveland.com is Hunter Tyson out of Clemson.

Hunter Tyson is an intriguing prospect for the Cleveland Cavaliers

There are a lot of pros for drafting Tyson. He’s a versatile 6’8, 210 lbs forward, who can play inside and out depending on need. He’s an aggressive rebounder when given a chance, pulling down just shy of 10 rebounds per game during his final year at Clemson. He’s also a good scorer at all three levels, averaging shooting splits of .478/.405/.838. He’s a finesse player who is able to use his natural quickness against players and is athletic for a man his size, positing a 28.5” standing vertical.

The cons aren’t enough for me to walk away, but they’re not insignificant. With many experts feeling like you peak in your mid to late 20s, getting a prospect at 23 is concerning. You don’t know if he’s already peaked or if he still has room to develop. He’s also only had one season where he’s put up good numbers, which is also concerning. Can he duplicate his game on the NBA level? The other issue is that he’s a tweener. He’s tall enough to play power forward, and his quick first step would benefit him more against bigger forwards, but he’s very light for the position. So the question becomes is his first step quick enough for an NBA small forward? It worked for him in college, but in the pros, the game is much faster.

His shooting, however, should give him a shot regardless. The Cavs need some wings, and Tyson could be the perfect compliment for the team going forward.

• Published on 06/19/2023 at 23:00 PM
• Last updated at 06/20/2023 at 00:47 AM