New York Knicks swingman Damyean Dotson has struggled to find playing time, but contenders are taking notice of what he brings to the table.
Whether intentionally or otherwise, the New York Knicks have taken steps towards eradicating the traces of Phil Jackson‘s influence. The last two relics from The Zen Master’s time as team president appear to be shining examples of this.
Both Damyean Dotson and Frank Ntilikina have struggled to maintain any type of playing time, with fans divided as to the reason for this.
While the complaints about Ntilikina’s production have validity to them, the same can’t be said about Dotson. He’s been a relatively productive swingman when he’s seen the court, and has been a positive influence on the quality of the team.
According to Marc Berman of The New York Post, a number of contenders have taken notice of what Dotson brings to the table.
"According to NBA sources, three prominent organizations — the Jazz, Bucks and Warriors — are expected to show some interest in Dotson, who made $1.6 million this season as a “3-and-D’’ prototype."
As such, one can’t help but wonder: What exactly is preventing Dotson from receiving consistent playing time in New York?
Dotson finished 2018-19 with averages of 10.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.7 three-point field goals made in 27.5 minutes per game. He did so on 36.8 percent shooting from beyond the arc, which led to the belief that he could develop into a genuine NBA sharpshooter.
Thus far in 2019-20, however, Dotson has appeared in just 48 games, averaging a mere 17.4 minutes of playing time during those outings.
That includes a recent stretch in which Dotson was a DNP in eight of a possible nine games—a spell that essentially put the writing on the wall.
When he has played, Dotson has actually produced for the orange and blue. He’s currently averaging 13.8 points and 2.5 three-point field goals per 36 minutes while converting a more than respectable 36.2 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc.
From an advanced metrics perspective, the Knicks have actually been 1.7 points per 100 possessions better when Dotson has been on the court than when he hasn’t been.
The question is: Will the New York Knicks reward Damyean Dotson with more playing time? Or will he be lost to a contending organization?