Damyean Dotson (SG, NYK) - Week 9 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add In 12-Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 34% of leagues

ANALYSIS: The 8-19 New York Knicks may not have done a lot of winning over the past few years, but with that comes the fact that they have served as an opportunity for some unsung players to make a name for themselves on the shallow roster, and former second-round draft pick Damyean Dotson has been no exception. Last year Dotson averaged just 10.8 minutes through the 44 games he played, having been in the starting-lineup just twice. This season, Dotson has already started nine times in 21 contests, and has been third on the Knicks in average floor-time (behind only Tim Hardaway Jr. and Enes Kanter) with 26.6 minutes per game. In that time he has put up 11.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and has been the only Knick to average 1.0 steal per game. He has also significantly improved his long-range shooting, as he is shooting 38.5% from beyond the arc as compared to 32.4% as a rookie, and his 4.3 attempts and 1.7 makes from distance per game is second on the squad behind only Hardaway Jr.

Dotson has actually played so well this year that he has generated acquisition-interest around the league, and the Brooklyn Nets and Detroit Pistons have both been identified as being interested in the former Oregon product. While it is unclear what a move across town to Brooklyn or to Detroit would mean for his playing-time or his role-prominence, the trade interest is at least encouraging in that these potential suitors are interested in what Dotson has to offer and are willing to give something up to make that happen, so it is unlikely this course of action would ensue if either the Nets or Pistons planned on having him ride the bench. While the trade rumors loom, Damyean Dotson's role with the Knicks as well as his "three and D" skill-set coupled with solid rebounding means he has value to offer fantasy basketball managers in standard-sized leagues.