Toronto Raptors: Is Malachi Flynn still a long-term building block?

The Toronto Raptors know they need to find some young backcourt help in order to help them prepare for the post Kyle Lowry era, and Masai Ujiri tagged San Diego State point guard Malachi Flynn as a potential savior after using the 29th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft on the Mountain West Player of the Year.

Flynn looked like an ideal successor to Lowry. Not only was the diminutive point guard and acclaimed offensive player and shooter in college, but he was also named the conference Defensive Player of the Year during his last season with the Aztecs.

Unfortunately, Flynn was much rawer than Ujiri anticipated on offense. Flynn is averaging just 2.2 points and 1.1 assists per game, shooting a very concerning 27 percent from the floor and 19 percent from 3-point range. His struggles got so bad at one point that he had to be demoted to Raptors 905 in the G League bubble.

With Lowry potentially leaving the Raptors in free agency, can Ujiri rely on Flynn as a trusted member of this backcourt in 2021?

Will the Raptors draft a point guard after Malachi Flynn struggled?

Giving up on a first-round pick so early might seem like a bad way to do business, but there is a difference between disappointing as a rookie and being almost unplayable. The Raptors are averaging .74 points per shot attempt whenever Flynn is on the floor, one of the worst totals in the game.

In a league wherein one player can get traded for multiple years of draft control, picks at the latter half of the first round have never been less valuable. Flynn was not a lottery pick, meaning that no one is chained to him.

With a very deep draft class at the point guard position and an equally deep free agent class, Flynn’s inability to put points on the board has tanked his value in just one season in the pros.

Still, there are reasons to hope Flynn can become a starter by next year. He was drafted after not playing any basketball for eight months, and he didn’t have the benefit of Summer League or a proper training camp where he could’ve gelled with his new teammates.

This has been the most unusual season in some time, and Flynn’s lack of Summer League experience and practice time has impeded his development. However, Toronto is by no means beholden to him, and they might need a major upgrade if Lowry leaves. Either Flynn will get some serious competition for 2021, or Ujiri will cut his losses and look for a replacement.