7 Prospects Kings should target with 13th overall pick in 2024 NBA Draft

Jaylon Tyson

2023-24 Stats: 19.6 PPG/6.8 RPG/3.5 APG/1.2 SPG/0.5 BPG on 55.7% True Shooting (31 Games)

When I was at the NBA Draft Combine, I asked @MavsDraft who this year's Jaime Jaquez Jr would be (a super skilled, high IQ, overlooked rookie that will get overlooked by a bunch of teams and be ready to contribute immediately). He responded by saying that it could be the 21-year-old forward out of California, Jaylon Tyson.

Tyson, like Jaquez, plays a very measured game. He relies a ton on strength, feel, and strong footwork in order to flow into midrange jumpers. The main difference between the two is that Jaquez has the higher motor while Tyson is the better shooter (career 37.2% 3-point shooter compared to Jaquez's career 32.8% mark). Regardless of their differences, getting a player who can contribute to winning right away is almost always a value add at 13.

I will also note that drafting Tyson neither upgrades the power forward spot (their main area of need) nor replaces Huerter. If the Kings draft Tyson, it will mean that they decided not to make a trade and bank on internal development and the draft in order to make a leap forward. Or that they made a trade for a power forward, are relying on Keon Ellis to start at shooting guard, and are adding Tyson as another creator/scorer off the bench.