Cavs: Damyean Dotson should have bigger role in early going

Damyean Dotson might end up having a bigger role in the early going for the Cleveland Cavaliers than was originally anticipated.

It’s not completely clear-cut as to what Damyean Dotson‘s role will end up being with the Cleveland Cavaliers. That’s at least in terms of his minutes-share/if he’s an every-game kind of player.

I was a big fan of Dotson’s signing by Cleveland, though, which was via team-friendly deal. Dotson, who was previously unrestricted after the New York Knicks didn’t extend him a qualifying offer, agreed to a two-year, $4 million deal with the Cavs, of which the second season is reportedly non-guaranteed.

Dotson is a highly capable catch-and-shoot threat, via spot-ups and off of movement, in particular.

Even on a Knicks squad that didn’t have the greatest spacing game-to-game, he hit 36.8 percent of his 4.7 three-point attempts per game in 2018-19, and then 36.2 percent of his 3.4 three-point attempts per outing last season.

Dotson’s minutes-share was cut down this past season, in large part due to the drafting of RJ Barrett by New York, but Dotson still was a nice reserve contributor in each of the past two campaigns. He had 10.7 and 6.7 points per contest in those, and feasibly in a rotational role, he could help Cleveland in spurts/some stretches at the 2/3 spots.

In the early going, though, we could see more of Dotson, considering uncertainty regarding Kevin Porter Jr., and with how Collin Sexton is working his way back from an ankle sprain. Albeit Sexton was in action on Friday in Cleveland’s last preseason outing at the Knicks, and should be in most of the 2 guard minutes going forward.

When it comes to Porter, let’s just hit on some quick background before getting to Dotson, however. Porter’s firearm and minor marijuana-related charges, which stemmed from him being involved a single-car rollover crash last month near Canfield were reportedly dismissed.

Here was more reported context in relation to that, per Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor, of which a grand jury did not end up indicting Porter for the gun charge.

"“Porter’s attorneys presented several pieces of evidence suggesting he might not have known the firearm was in the glove compartment, including a sworn statement from Porter’s mother.Ayanna Porter, who legally owns the firearm and maintains a concealed carry permit she obtained while living in Seattle, told the grand jury she drove the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE — a vehicle he purchased for her as a gift — the day before the crash, forgot her gun was in the car and failed to inform Kevin. She also presented a receipt from her purchase of the firearm and the serial numbers matched.Misdemeanor charges of marijuana possession and driving without a license were also dismissed by Judge Scott Hunter on Dec. 2, with a docket entry in the case stating the decision was made because there was ‘no valid statutory test at the state level.’ The entry also says prosecutors reserve the right to re-file a charge ‘whenever applicable under the constitution, statutes or criminal rules of the state of Ohio.’ Porter admitted fault for failure to control his vehicle.”‘"

From there, Fedor would demonstrate in his report how Porter hasn’t had nearly a full training camp and there was some personal time given for him to seemingly collect himself mentally after the legal matters.

And Porter wasn’t in action at all in preseason, so based on what Fedor noted in his report from Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, it is not yet certain if Porter will play in Cleveland’s 2020-21 season opener on Wednesday versus the Charlotte Hornets.

So when weighing in the Porter situation/the uncertainty in the early going, one would think that Dotson should have a bigger role early on for the Cavaliers.

Early on, Dotson should have his fair share of Cavs run.

To reiterate here, we’ll have to see as far as what Dotson’s role ends up being, in relation to the minutes-share as the season progresses. Bickerstaff is reportedly “most comfortable” running a 10-man rotation, with an X factor-type player as an 11th guy in some instances.

With Dotson’s shooting/floor spacing abilities, though, I could see him end up being a solid rotational contributor for spurts/potentially stretches.

Dotson moves so well without the ball, similarly to Dylan Windler, and though I wouldn’t anticipate Dotson to necessarily be a key on-ball threat often when he is out there, he can create for himself to some degree. Dotson has a nice handle, and can generate separation, particularly step backs/pull backs and side steps.

Additionally, Dotson, while I wouldn’t imagine the volume would be really be a ton of the time, is a capable pick-and-roll shot creator, and that could be a nice weapon for Cleveland at times.

Anyway, while it has been preseason (I know, I know), Dotson has given the Cavs some juice when he’s been in there. And next season, I firmly believe if he’s given the opportunities, he should fit in with a variety of pieces, such as Darius Garland and with Isaac Okoro, Cedi Osman and/or Dylan Windler at the 3, for instance.

That’s to go with Kevin Love, whose status is seemingly uncertain for Cleveland’s Opening Night game due to a calf strain, per a Fedor report, among others.

Moreover, Dotson it would appear should be in-line for a bigger role in the early going than was perhaps anticipated originally.

Albeit with his off-ball/shooting prowess, to go with nice handle and being a competent defender, maybe he could end up being a bigger acquisition than was initially thought of going forward, too?

We’ll see on that.