Malachi Flynn's game looks NBA-ready; should that appeal to teams like the Nuggets?

The Nuggets currently hold the No. 22 pick in the NBA Draft. Over the next month, the DNVR Nuggets crew will examine who Denver may pick with that selection. Make sure to mark your calendar for Wednesday, November 18, the night of the draft and DNVR Nuggets Draft Day LIVE streaming on Periscope and YouTube.

Who is Malachi Flynn?

NBA rookies will be at an unprecedented disadvantage heading into next season. There’s no Summer League or valuable offseason open gym period where rookies begin to build chemistry with their new teammates. If the regular season begins on Dec. 22, a rookie may not step inside his new team’s facility until the first day of training camp on what’s looking like Dec. 1.

That sped up offseason timeline coupled with less practice time throughout a condensed 72-game season could mean that prospects who aren’t deemed NBA-ready struggle mightily this season. More seasoned prospects with skill-sets that allow them to be plug-and-play options at the NBA level may have a leg up on their rookie counterparts.

Could the accelerated post-draft process lead to teams bypassing a “project” NBA prospect for one who’s more ready to contribute right away? We’ll see. But Malachi Flynn definitely falls into the latter bucket of players who are deemed more NBA-ready heading into the Nov. 18 draft. For a contending team like the Nuggets, he could be able to contribute immediately.

Flynn, 22, is a 6-foot-1 point guard (6-3 wingspan) out of San Diego State. The 22-year-old is a hard-nosed defender, a strong three-point shooter and one of the top pick-and-roll point guards in the draft.

Strengths

• Pick-and-roll passing: Can pass with either hand to any open teammate in the half-court.
• Great pull-up jumper and shooter off the catch. Was a career 36% shooter from three and an 83% shooter from the line. He projects well as a three-point shooter and has NBA range.
• Aggressive, scrappy, instinctual 1-on-1 and team defender. Fights through screens and doesn’t give up on the play.

Weaknesses

• Smaller frame than you’d like for an NBA point guard. Not an elite athlete either so finishing in the paint could be an issue. Right now he’s a below-the-rim finisher.
• Engaged defender, but he could get pummeled on switches.

NBA Comparison: Fred VanVleet

How does Flynn fit with the Nuggets?

Offense

Flynn’s long-term fit on the Nuggets’ roster as currently constructed doesn’t make a whole lot of sense on the surface. Jamal Murray is Denver’s starting point guard. Monte Morris is under contract for next season as one of the stronger backups in the league. The Nuggets are high on PJ Dozier who’s waiting in the wings and could crack the rotation as a backcourt mate next to Morris on Denver’s second unit next season. Flynn would seem to be the odd man out of that trio.

But…Morris is about to get expensive. He’s up for a contract extension and is severely underpaid at the $1.7 million that he’s scheduled to make next season as long as the Nuggets guarantee his contract. If Denver was to move on from Morris before it had to pay him, Flynn could be the Nuggets’ insurance.

Flynn’s natural pick-and-roll instincts would fit in Denver. He’s a pure point guard, a willing passer, and has the offensive feel of someone who could stick in the league for 10 years. Flynn’s ability as a spot-up shooter means that he could mesh nicely in two-point guard lineups alongside Morris too. Flynn should be able to score efficiently at the next level even as a rookie. His perimeter game is that reliable.

Currently, the Nuggets don’t have a glaring hole at point guard. But if Denver deems Flynn as a ready-made backup and he’s available at 22, the Nuggets could scoop up a reliable reserve who they feel can step into an NBA lineup right now if called upon.

Defense

Flynn’s a bulldog on the defensive end of the floor. He was Mountain West Player of the Year in 2020 but also won the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year award. He’s an aggressive 1-on-1 defender who loves to apply constant ball pressure. He has quick hands and a knack for poking the ball free from his matchup. His defensive motor is really impressive.

Flynn has good instincts on the defensive end of the floor too. He rarely gives up on plays, fights through screens, and is an engaged off-ball defender who has a good sense of when to gamble for steals and when to stay conservative.

However, Flynn’s height and lack of length could ultimately cap his ceiling. He’s smaller than Morris with a shorter wingspan. That would be concerning to me if I was running an NBA team.