Drafting Damyean Dotson in the second round was one of the smartest decisions Phil Jackson has made during his New York Knicks tenure.
I haven’t given out too many compliments to Phil Jackson during his miserable reign with the Knicks, but I have to give credit where it is due. Drafting Damyean Dotson in the second round was one of the smartest decisions he has made.
Dotson as the 44th pick potential to be a steal for the New York Knicks. Fans got a chance to watch him during the Orlando Summer League.
In five games, he averaged 25 minutes and scored 12.8 points, 5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. Furthermore, he shot 48 percent from the field and behind the arc.
He led the Knicks to their only Summer League victory over the Miami Heat, scoring 20 points and snagging 9 rebounds. But it’s not Dotson’s solid Summer League performances that make him a diamond in the rough for the Knicks, it’s what he can bring to the organization.
The Knicks need a shooter, and that is what they are receiving with Dotson. He knows his biggest strength is in his shot, and he utilizes it frequently. In Dotson’s senior year at Houston, he shot 245 threes. Dotson averaged 7.7 three-point shot attempts a game.
But the most impressive stat within his three-point shooting is his three-point percentage. Shooting that many threes and still averaging 44 percent.
That kind of production can earn yourself a nice long career in the NBA, especially in today’s game where three-point shooting is so important. Dotson can also defend on the perimeter which provides 3 and D potential. That is another valuable aspect of his game that he can bring to the Knicks.
For a shooting guard, Dotson has a strong rebound game, averaging 6.9 rebounds per game at Houston. Dotson has tons of athletic ability with a 38-inch vertical leap, which allows him to secure rebounds with relative ease.
In order for Dotson to become a big time player, he must develop a game attacking the basket. It was seen that even in the Summer League that Dotson was only an offensive threat from outside the paint.
Getting to the foul line is not something Dotson does well. His senior year at Houston he got to the line only 1.7 times per game. That has to improve.
There are going to be times where his jump shot is not falling, but the best thing to do in that circumstance is to attack the rim. Make a layup to build your confidence or get to the foul line to get that shot going.
If he develops this part of his game, well, look out. Dotson will be someone very special if he builds on his strengths.
He has the chance to impact the Knicks right away. He may not have a huge impact early on next season, but by the end of the year and moving forward he should have a bigger role with the team.
Being 23 years old, which is old to be a rookie in the NBA, more than likely made him fall to the second round. He does a handful of things on the floor well that can really help a team.
The Knicks need to hurry up and ink him to a deal, which they are working on. He has a chance to be the steal of this year’s draft.
