Start, bench, cut: Toronto Raptors point guard options in 2023
By Mike Luciano
Cut: Malachi Flynn
Why is Flynn still on this roster? Dowtin proved to be a better player than him when he supplanted him in the rotation last season, and his play has stagnated. While the player picked after him (Desmond Bane) signed a max contract, Flynn is still fighting for a spot in the league.
Flynn shot 36% from the field last season and has mustered just a 37% success rate during his career. While he can look solid for a few games, it becomes tough to consistently show the defensive effort and effective offensive play needed to justify his draft spot.
Malachi Flynn might not last with the Toronto Raptors.
Flynn doesn’t bring Barnes’ potential or Schroder’s consistency. With Dowtin’s terrific energy and Nowell’s masterful passing skills, both of them could easily supplant him in the pecking order. Flynn is guaranteed next to nothing in what is a pivotal season for Toronto.
There’s still some hope that Flynn could eventually become a worthwhile player in the NBA, but he will likely need to join a new team and get comfortable in a new system before that happens. It would be very surprising if Flynn is on the roster at the end of the season.