5 sleeper NBA Draft picks for the Denver Nuggets to target
By Ben Handler
No. 4 - Jaylon Tyson, California
The Nuggets have taken their share of off-guards and wings in the draft recently, but Tyson would bring a pretty different skillset than guys like Christian Braun and Peyton Watson. While those guys are mostly known for defense, athleticism, and hustle, Tyson is certainly no slouch on that end, but he can provide instant offense with the best of them.
Tyson was probably overtasked with being a lead creator at Cal and the result was inconsistent shooting and high turnovers. But in a smaller role, playing off guys like Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, Tyson could be an incredible secondary scorer and playmaker.
While his shot wasn’t knockdown, he can get hot with the best of them and a healthier shot diet should lead to increased efficiency. He should be able to play alongside the stars, but also carry the offense for short spurts here and there.
He may never be a lockdown defender, but he has the size and versatility to make it work with a strong commitment. It feels like the floor for Tyson is a solid microwave scorer off the bench who can get into the lane at will.
Jaylon Tyson offense clips.
— Matt Powers (@DraftPow) May 27, 2024
- Creative footwork and timing attacking the basket but lacks pop on last step
- Not a consistent passer but still capable of high-value reads
- Flow into pull-up and stability on catch and shoot are both excellent pic.twitter.com/4qBCQY3q9d
Having the tools he does along with the size to get his shot off and also bully his way to the basket would be huge for the Nuggets. If he can cut out some of the sloppy play and improve his jumper, he’ll be an outstanding pro.