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New York Knicks: Players who must step up in Tim Hardaway Jr.’s absence

By Maxwell Ogden

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 27: Tim Hardaway Jr #3 of the New York Knicks warms up before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Madison Square Garden on November 27, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 27: Tim Hardaway Jr #3 of the New York Knicks warms up before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Madison Square Garden on November 27, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images) /
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WESTCHESTER, NY – NOVEMBER 19: Damyean Dotson #2 of the Westchester Knicks Drives to the basket against the Lakeland Magic during an NBA G-League game on November 19, 2017 at Westchester County Center in Westchester, New York. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Michael J. Le Brecht II/NBAE via Getty Images)
WESTCHESTER, NY – NOVEMBER 19: Damyean Dotson #2 of the Westchester Knicks Drives to the basket against the Lakeland Magic during an NBA G-League game on November 19, 2017 at Westchester County Center in Westchester, New York. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Michael J. Le Brecht II/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1. Damyean Dotson

The New York Knicks selected Damyean Dotson at No. 44 overall in the 2017 NBA Draft. In the months that have followed, a working theory has developed that the Knicks would soon call Dotson’s number and see what he’s made of.

With Tim Hardaway Jr. set to miss roughly two weeks with a lower leg injury, the time has finally arrived for Dotson to prove himself.

Dotson is a 6’5″ shooting guard with plus athleticism, an NBA-caliber frame, and a solid 6’9″ wingspan. The ideal situation for the Knicks would be the rookie putting those physical gifts to use on the defensive end of the floor.

Thankfully, Dotson has played at a respectable level on defense already, hounding ball-handlers and contesting shots in the manner the rest of the team has failed to.

Offensively, Dotson was an elite shooter in college, and has the potential to develop a similar measure of consistency in the NBA. If he defends at a high level and shoots in a comparable capacity, he should be able to fill Hardaway’s void in an admirable manner.

If Dotson also excels as a facilitator—a trait he’s flashed during his playing career—the Knicks could receive a glimpse of the future.

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The New York Knicks have a mountain to climb without Tim Hardaway Jr., but the personnel exists to address that flaw.

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