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Damyean Dotson – 6’5″ Shooting Guard, University of Houston, 23 Years Old
Damyean Dotson is a shooting guard from the University of Houston who may be taken late in the second round. In his senior season he had 17.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game. He shot 50.5% on two-point field goals and 44.3% on three-point field goals (per DraftExpress). His Player Efficiency Rating was 24.3 and he produced 1.14 points per play, too. Dotson has the potential to be a quality role player in the Association. His ability to start is a question, though.
Strengths
Dotson has risen up draft boards lately. He has gotten a bit lost in the fold on some mock drafts, but he had a steady college career. First off, Dotson is a shooter; most importantly, he improved each season at the three ball. This year, Dotson finished first in the All American Conference in three point percentage and second in threes made (per Sports Reference). He moves well off-ball to get open, and he excels in spot-ups. With the way teams shoot transition triples in today’s NBA, he could fit in nicely taking those looks.
He also has a solid pull-up jumper in the mid-range area, especially off left-handed dribble setups. Dotson does a good job of squaring up for a quality shooting base, and he has a fairly high release to get his shots off. In his days at Houston, his polished outside shot made him more efficient in his minutes on the floor. The floor spacing he provides could open up driving lanes for others down the road in the NBA.
On defense, Dotson is not going to make many highlight plays. That said, he is solid on the perimeter with sound fundamentals. His 6’9″ wingspan (per DraftExpress) is a big plus against guards, and he closes out well to shooters. In addition, he is a good rebounder for a two guard. He can fly in from the wing and snatch offensive put-backs and he will rebound his position on the defensive end. He has impressive athleticism, which is something that cannot be taught on D.
Weaknesses
The glaring weakness for this guy is his age. 23-year-old rookies have a shorter leash than some younger players. That’s a considerable knock on him, given there are a number of two guards in this draft. The other key weakness is that Dotson was dismissed from Oregon due to sexual assault allegations (per oregonlive.com). He was not charged, but it could be a red flag on him for teams.
Now to the improvement areas on the floor. Dotson should attack the rim more off the bounce; he had a 38-inch max vertical jump at the combine. His handle needs to improve a bit to get through length at the next level, too. That prevents shot-making at times, and he doesn’t get to the free throw line often (just 1.9 attempts per game in college).
Along with that, his playmaking needs to get better. He seems to be a knowledgeable player, so it seems he could put up more than 1.3 assists per 40 minutes. That’s not good enough in a weak conference with his talent. He needs to get better at reading plays in the screen-and-roll, which is crucial for guards and wings now. Teams will attack him with length and force the action.
NBA Potential
It’s tough to gauge Dotson’s career outlook. Initially, he could develop a little more in the Developmental League. The fact of the matter is he will not likely be an NBA starter. Nonetheless, with his shooting ability, teams will never be far away. His three point shooting and explosive athleticism gives him a chance to be a quality rotational guard. It may take a full season or two of developing, but Dotson has the talent to be a solid shooting specialist in the Association. His length should help him defensively on the wing, but it is too early to label him a “three-and-D” player. Realistically, Dotson could have a decent career in the NBA for six or seven years if he has a willing attitude.
NBA Player Comparison
There’s a few players that this guy models. He moves well without the ball, and that is a timeless attribute. Danny Green of the San Antonio Spurs has established himself as one of the best two-way role players in the league, and there are similar traits in Dotson. If this guy is bought in, he could end up a formidable defender. Dotson has all the physical tools, and he is a really good rebounder for a perimeter player. Tony Snell of the Milwaukee Bucks is another wing player that comes to mind, given his length and three point shooting to couple with a willing defensive mindset. Dotson has better athleticism than these two players, but they are a good benchmark for him going forward.
Look for Damyean Dotson late in the second round on draft night, and be sure to stay updated with our complete coverage of the 2017 NBA Draft!
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