DETROIT — The New York Knicks have their three-game winning streak and second-year shooting guard Damyean Dotson has his own streak. Sunday’s game in Memphis marked Dotson’s fourth straight game in which David Fizdale didn’t play him.
It leaves Dotson’s future cloudy. It’s only going to get worse as shooting guard Courtney Lee will be worked into the rotation in about a week — most likely to showcase him for playoff contenders.
The Knicks have a team option on Dotson’s contract for next season, meaning they have to make a decision on him before the July 1 start of free agency. That complicates matters, and they may have to think about a trade by February’s deadline — perhaps for a 2019 second-rounder — if they don’t intend to exercise Dotson’s option.
According to a source, the Knicks have been approached by a couple of teams about Dotson’s availability because of his precarious contract status.
Knicks general manager Scott Perry did not draft Dotson. Though president Steve Mills was GM for the 2017 draft, the Dotson pick at No. 44 was spearheaded by former president Phil Jackson and his top adviser, Clarence Gaines, according to sources.
Dotson did not play in the season’s first two games and only got into a contest when Kevin Knox went down with a severe ankle sprain in the third game. Dotson proceeded to make 11 straight effective starts before being demoted in a lineup shake-up Nov. 14.
Fizdale said at the time Dotson would still get plenty of minutes because of his 3-point shooting prowess and tenacity. And Fizdale made good on the promise for three games before the plug was pulled.
There are indications “politics” may be at work. Mario Hezonja made his fourth straight start in Memphis but has not shot well (5-of-21). Perry drafted Hezonja in Orlando in 2015 and doubled down on the Croatian by signing him for the mid-level exception this summer. Fizdale could be looking to appease Perry.
However, the Knicks have won with Hezonja as starter because he still has to be accounted for as a threat — a slasher and shooter with size. Hezonja is also making fewer defensive mistakes.
The burly Dotson has become a productive two-way, “3 and D” competitor. He was averaging 10.1 points and 4.5 rebounds in 26.9 minutes when Fizdale stopped playing him.
The disparity between 2018 lottery picks Sunday was glaring. Memphis’ Jaren Jackson Jr., the fourth pick, dominated, hitting for 16 points on 6-of-6 shooting with seven blocks and six rebounds. Selected five spots later, Knox didn’t take to Beale Street — going 0-for-3 with an airball in a scoreless 7:26. Fizdale called Jackson “a future All-Star.’’ Knox, 19, has struggled since Fizdale yanked him from the starting lineup four games ago. Jackson is the league’s youngest player and Knox is second-youngest.