The Cleveland Cavaliers showed flashes of great play in their first season under head coach Kenny Atkinson.
That’s because he helped Evan Mobley reach his best version yet, making him more aggressive and helping him become a much more efficient offensive player.
The coach also helped Darius Garland be more assertive, taking ownership of the offense instead of just waiting around when he didn’t have the ball in his hands.
Ty Jerome also had the best season of his career, and it’s clear that Atkinson knows how to bring the best out of young players, which is something he did during his days with the Brooklyn Nets.
That’s why, even though the season had a disappointing ending, there are reasons to be excited about the Cavs’ future.
Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com predicted that the Cavs will most likely get better versions of Jaylon Tyson and Craig Porter Jr., thanks to the head coach.
“Atkinson was hired partly because of his player development skills. This offseason and upcoming training camp is time for the coaches to raise the level of play for Jaylon Tyson and Porter. Tyson was the team’s 2024 first-round pick. The [6-foot-6] Tyson can help the Cavs, who need more big guards/small forwards,” Pluto wrote.
Tyson looked good in limited minutes as a rookie and should be a big part of the plan going forward.
He’s got the size to be a two-way forward who can hold his own against 3s and 4s, and if he becomes a consistent 3-point shooter, he could be one of the first players off the bench next season.
As for Porter, he’s the team’s only pure point guard behind Garland, and having him lead the way on the second unit will be crucial, even if the Cavs manage to re-sign Jerome.
NEXT: Insider Reveals What Cavs Plan On Improving In Training Camp
