Knicks second-year swingman Damyean Dotson has seen his playing time expand with rookie Kevin Knox sidelined by an ankle sprain, but coach David Fizdale was eager to play Dotson anyway, Peter Botte of the New York Post reports. Dotson has averaged 14.0 PPG over the past four games after not playing the first two games. “It was hard not to play him right away, because we have a lot of young guys I’ve got to look at. But he’s really earned his way, and he’s got my trust, for sure,” Fizdale said. Dotson is the low man on the salary list for New York. He’s making $1.378MM this season and has a non-guaranteed $1.62MM contract for next season.
There’s more from around the Eastern Conference:
- Hawks forward Alex Poythress will miss at least three games due to a left knee injury, according to a team press release. He was diagnosed with a capsular sprain and bone bruise and will miss the team’s upcoming road trip. Poythress averaged 5.3 PPG and 3.8 RPG in 18.0 MPG in his first four appearances with Atlanta. Poythress is one of the team’s two-way players after seeing action in 25 games with the Pacers last season.
- The Hornets have never signed a player to a max contract since the franchise moved to 2004, something to keep in mind during Kemba Walker‘s foray into free agency, Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer notes. The Hornets could offer Walker five seasons and just under $190MM, or up to $221MM if he earns an All-NBA selection. The most another team could offer is $140MM over four seasons. However, the franchise already has heavy financial obligations, so it’s uncertain how high the Hornets would go to retain their point guard, Bonnell adds.
- All of the Pacers’ starters are averaging fewer minutes thanks to an improved bench, Jim Ayello of the Indianapolis Star points out. Victor Oladipo, at 31.4 MPG, is the only player averaging more than 30 minutes a game. “Oh man, it’s good for all of us,” guard Darren Collison told Ayello. “We’ve been chilling mostly the whole time at the end of games. We’ve had a lot of blowouts, either us doing it to them or the other way around, so all of the starters are mostly playing between 20-25 minutes. Hopefully, it will pay off in the long run.”
Tyreke Evans will have to sit out tomorrow nights game against Cleveland for being late to practice. Tyreke said the Pacers are the most organized and team oriented organization he has played for.
That one is mentioned 5 hours ago on this site.
ok
is there another owner perfecting the art of tanking than dan gilbert?
Gilbert is not perfecting the art of tanking, tanking was forced on to the Cavs by building a flawed roster for one more run with LBJ last year, and then him leaving in the offseason.
Really like Kemba as a player, but don’t see him as a true max guy. Maybe it’s the ho-hum teams he’s played with, and lack of seeing him in National spotlight or playoff games. His numbers are great, seems like a really good kid, just not sold that he’s worth the $140-$221M.
That said, he’ll likely get it from someone, and I don’t begrudge it to him either.
“Forced”? Is that why the #8 BRK pick was traded for Kemba? Oh wait it wasn’t.
I wish the Cavs went into win-now mode.