The Toronto Raptors are still undecided on the fate of former first-round pick Malachi Flynn. While he was taken very high and expected to integrate into the roster as Fred vanVleet’s backup, Flynn has been so poor that he was excommunicated entirely from the rotation.
Flynn is on the books next year, but he could also be a trade target if Masai Ujiri is still unsure of his ability to become a high-level starter at the professional level. After seeing his scoring and efficiency fall off a cliff, Ujiri and the front office are right to have some concerns.
Flynn might need a change of scenery, as what’s going on in Toronto is not conducive to helping him grow as a player. Getting more playing time on another quality team could be better than limited spurts of mop-up duty north of the border.
Eric Koreen of The Athletic threw out several interesting trade proposals that send Flynn elsewhere in exchange for a young player coming to Toronto. While not all of these trades are perfectly constructed, some interesting moves could help Flynn move on. Which ones should the Raptors pull the trigger on?
Should the Toronto Raptors pursue these Malachi Flynn trades?
4. Flynn goes to Utah
Azubuike would help the Raptors get bigger and stronger, as the 6-11 and 280-pound center can be a solid rebounder and shot-blocker if he gets a clean bill of health. Flynn would end up with another reliable organization, and the Raptors get a young big. What’s the issue? Well, it’s the return.
Azubuike has a litany of foot and lower body injuries, making him much less attractive as a trade candidate. While the Jazz will get a young point guard that can learn from a 6-1 star in Mike Conley, Toronto would be getting one of the rawest big men in the Western Conference.
The Jazz would win a Raptors trade that involves Malachi Flynn.
Azubuike has played in just 32 games over the last two seasons, averaging 3.0 points and 2.6 rebounds in that span. In addition, he’s been so poor on offense that the only value he offers is dunking the basketball.
Flynn could fit in with the Jazz, but Azubuike is such a question mark on both ends at this point that Ujiri should hang up the phone if Utah offers him. The Raptors need to get more rebounding excellence, but there are safer options that don’t require a player like Flynn to get traded.
Verdict: Pass
3. Denver takes Flynn
While Nnaji was thought of highly when Denver made him a first-round pick, it’s going to be hard for him to break into a lineup that already features back-to-back MVP Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon. Trading him and getting more point guard depth behind Jamal Murray and Monte Morris could appeal to Denver.
Flynn could go to a team crying out for more scorers to take the pressure off of Jokic. If Flynn hits his stride, he’ll easily take Facundo Campazzo’s spot in the rotation. Nnaji would be another young athletic big man that Nick Nurse could bring on and turn into a quality two-way player.
This Nuggets-Raptors Malachi Flynn trade could work.
After just one season, the Raptors helped make Precious Achiuwa a two-way standout, and Nnaji could be in for a similar production spike. Nnaji is already an elite 3-point shooter with a 44% success rate on just under two attempts per game, so he could morph into a top sniper with the Raptors.
Nnaji might not fit the highest requirements that some Raptors fans want for their newest big man, but it’s hard to get too grouchy with regard to the idea of adding a youngster with his potential. He and Achiuwa could form a super-young frontcourt of the future behind Pascal Siakam.
Verdict: Pursue
2. The Pistons snatch up Flynn
Detroit is ready to move ahead with Cade Cunningham and whoever is their first-round pick this year as their core. Hayes was picked up before Cunningham with the intention of being a long-term ball-handling option, but whatever potential he had with the Pistons has been washed away by these last two seasons.
Hayes has averaged just 6.8 points per game on 37% shooting in the NBA, which is what Flynn has basically provided. Essentially, Toronto would be trading Flynn for an exaggerated version with better physical measurables. It doesn’t sound great to me!
Killian Hayes is too risky for the Toronto Raptors.
The Raptors need to avoid getting high on their own supply regarding their defensive switchability dogma. Having players that can defend multiple positions is good, but it can work against you when you’re trading for a player that has been so noticeably bad on offense due to his traits.
In addition to the fact that Hayes is not a sizeable upgrade for a team that has postseason ambitions, giving up a potential first-round pick would be a considerable investment in such a risky player. There are trades to be made with Detroit, but this is not one of them, unfortunately.
Verdict: Pass
1. Flynn moves over to Oklahoma City
This one would be the best for Toronto, even if Bazley is coming off a season where his efficiency dipped. With OKC moving on with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey, Bazley could be traded if it means that they can get some quality bench players behind their stars.
Bazley is coming off a season in which he averaged 10.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game on 42% shooting, the best mark of his career. However, Raptors fans will wonder if Bazley’s numbers are the product of getting a ton of shots up on a lackluster Thunder team full of young players.
Darius Bazley might boost the Toronto Raptors.
Even if he might not be a double-digit scorer in Toronto, Bazley is a premium athlete with verticality and versatility. That fits the M.O. of what this front office has typically demanded from their young players. Once Nurse fixes his 3-point shot, Bazley could take off in Toronto.
While Oklahoma City will designate Flynn as a backup, giving him consistent minutes on a team that will allow him to prove himself as an offensive player will be the best thing for his career. If the Raptors can get Bazley back in return, this will be a win-win for both sides.
Verdict: Pursue