Raptors: Nick Nurse details plan for Malachi Flynn, Dalano Banton

The Toronto Raptors have nine players who will firmly end up in the rotation, but there is still a chance that either Malachi Flynn or Dalano Banton finally breaks out. After a long time in the Toronto developmental pipeline, Nick Nurse may finally get to reap the benefits of these youngsters.

While Banton is officially a non-guaranteed player competing for a roster spot, he may be the most likely of those players to make it onto the big-league club. Flynn has impressed on the pro-am circuit to the point where he’s thrown up jaw-dropping box scores.

Even though Nurse was kicking back and relaxing at a golf tournament for his eponymous foundation, he was able to confide some of his plans for the rotation in Daily Hive’s Adam Laskaris. It sounds like Nurse envisions both guards playing a role this year.

“Last year, we played Dalano in the first half [of games] and Malachi in the second, or something like that,” Nurse said. “I don’t know why we were doing it, to be honest… they’d both play good, and then we’d go to the next game and do it again. There will be some sort of that jockeying around [for playing time] next season.”

Toronto Raptors: Nick Nurse hypes Dalano Banton, Malachi Flynn

Flynn has all the potential in the world as a scorer, as evidenced by the fact that he has been lighting up the pro-am circuit. The issue with him has been efficiency, as he is a career 38% shooter. Nurse will need to see if any of Flynn’s improvements will translate to the NBA.

Like Flynn, Banton looked like a much better offensive player in Summer League. If his biggest flaw ends up being corrected, we could see him return to the rotation in a more permanent role. Even if he struggles to shoot, that defensive skill will be very enticing for Nurse.

Of course, Nurse can reserve the right to send both of them to the bench in favor of either using Scottie Barnes or Pascal Siakam as a point-forward. After having some success with that last year, Nurse might be a bit foolish if he decides just ultimately to abandon it.

Banton and Flynn need to step up, as putting too much of a burden on names like Barnes, Siakam, and Fred VanVleet (who broke down at the end of the season) is a one-way ticket to getting burnt out in March and April. Nurse put the ball in Banton and Flynn’s court. It’s on them to take advantage.