New York Knicks: Five players with the most to prove in training camp

3. Damyean Dotson

Damyean Dotson was a significant part of the New York Knicks’ roster by midseason. Sure, it attributed to the roster moves made that cleared a chunk of it, but the Houston product benefited from the openings.

73 games and 40 starts are plenty, and the Knicks returned Dotson on a contract that had a back-out date in the summer. His deal is now fully guaranteed for 2019-20, but where he sits in the rotation is not.

The offseason created a crowded backcourt situation. No longer is it spare parts, as RJ Barrett, Wayne Ellington and Elfrid Payton all joined the team. Dennis Smith Jr., Frank Ntilikina and Allonzo Trier are still around. Those six players can each accumulate 20 minutes per game, crunching any additional rotation depth.

Perhaps Dotson’s experience taking a significant role under Fizdale helps him, but it will still take standing out amongst the pack in training camp, especially with Ntilikina’s stock on the rise, Trier’s quick impression, the big, looming role for Barrett and Ellington and Payton as fresh faces. If the 25-year-old guard cannot rise above them, he may find himself outside the rotation to open the season and became a trade candidate down the line if it persists.

The talent is there for Dotson to take a role, though too many players stand in his way to guarantee anything.