The Toronto Raptors currently don’t have a traditional backup point guard, as Nick Nurse is willing to leave Fred VanVleet on the court for as long as possible rather than lean on either Dalano Banton or Malachi Flynn. After promising starts to their Raptors tenure, both of them are in a bit of a rut.
Flynn, picked 29th overall in 2020 out of San Diego State, has been a below-average shooter in a year where Toronto expected tangible offensive growth. Banton, a 2021 second-rounder from Nebraska by way of Rexdale, went from a promising bench sparkplug to a benchwarmer.
With Nick Nurse using a truncated rotation amid Toronto’s losing streak, Banton and Flynn have been put on ice outside of some meaningless garbage-time minutes. With a huge 2022 makeover on the horizon, the odds of the Raptors keeping both of them around are unlikely.
Will the Raptors keep Banton or Flynn in 2022-23? While the present has been a bit rocky, it’s clear to see that both of them have traits worth developing, and a Toronto team built around making sure that their young studs keep improving will make sure that they hold on to at least one of these greenhorns.
Should the Toronto Raptors lean on Dalano Banton or Malachi Flynn?
The Case for Dalano Banton
Banton, who is averaging 3.7 points and 2.0 rebounds per game on 41% shooting this season, has scored more than five points in a game just once since November 21. Since then he’s made just 27% of his shots and had issues holding onto the ball. Luckily, his G League stats have been very encouraging.
Banton has averaged 27.5 points per game with Raptors 905, including 33 in a win over the Cleveland Charge. When given an extended run on the floor and allowed to handle the ball, Banton has shown an adeptness for getting to the rim and finishing inside in the developmental leagues.
Toronto Raptors: Dalano Banton projects as a nice two-way player.
While Banton is a bit ropy and might struggle to defend some above-average offensive guards, his 6-9 body, long arms, and motor would make him a unique chess piece to move around the perimeter in the immediate and long-term future.
Banton may have screwed up his developmental timeline by working his way into the rotation as a rookie, but he’s already proved that he is much too good to be stuck in the G League constantly. He may be the best option on this Raptors roster when it comes to replacing VanVleet.
The Case for Malachi Flynn
Flynn has been a massive disappointment this season, as he is averaging just 2.8 points per game on 35% shooting. While Flynn appears to be on his way out in Toronto given how he has taken a huge downturn, there is still a chance that the player we saw last season.
Flynn averaged 12.5 points and 4.5 assists per game in April and May last season, even being named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month. The pestilent defense, pick-and-roll mastery, and improved offensive creation all looked like signs that he was on the verge of breaking out.
Toronto Raptors: Will Malachi Flynn get back on track?
Based on how they profiled coming out of college, Flynn’s history as a better shooter than Banton gives him more of a pedigree that suggests he can be a dynamic perimeter threat. You don’t win a Conference Rookie of the Month award by complete accident. Something is still there.
Unfortunately, it’s hard to get too excited about a player that has regressed in his second season to the point where Nurse is leaning on lineups that feature Scottie Barnes and Pascal Siakam initiating the offense as a primary ball-handler.
Final Verdict
When you compare the two head-to-head, Banton should be prioritized in the rotation and from a developmental point of view. Teaching Banton how to become a more refined offensive player might actually be easier than trying to figure out how to get Flynn back on the right track.
Banton has been making 32% of his 3-point attempts in the G League, showing that the Raptors are putting a ton of emphasis on getting that jumper working. Considering how he could help the team as a perimeter defender, Banton’s key to success lies in unlocking his offense.
The Toronto Raptors should trust Dalano Banton’s defense.
Flynn, who is older than Gary Trent Jr. is, was expected to be an impact player given his age and production at San Diego State, where he won conference Player of the Year. The lack of growth in Year 2 has been alarming, and it makes a sudden breakout in Year 3 less likely.
Banton’s development needs to be handled very judiciously, and we’ve already seen that positivity as a rookie isn’t always something that will indicate future success. However, his athletic toolbox is so varied that this team would be doing him a disservice by not investing resources into developing him.