The San Antonio Spurs, who appeared to have a settled roster as the NBA offseason winds down, made a surprising move on August 7th. According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Spurs have agreed to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract with 26-year-old guard Malachi Flynn, formerly of the Detroit Pistons.
Flynn, who has played for the New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors, and Pistons, appeared in 69 games last season. He averaged 5.5 points and 1.9 assists per game, shooting 41.8% from the field, 33.1% from three-point range, and 73.2% from the free-throw line. His most notable achievement last season was a 50-point game against the Atlanta Hawks.
Since being drafted 29th overall by the Raptors in 2020, Flynn has struggled to find a steady role in the NBA. After the Pistons declined to extend him a qualifying offer, he became an unrestricted free agent. The non-guaranteed deal with San Antonio offers Flynn a chance to prove his worth and secure a spot on the roster.
The signing of Flynn brings the Spurs’ training camp roster to the maximum of 21 players. This includes 15 players on guaranteed contracts, three on two-way contracts, and two on Exhibit-10 deals (Riley Minix and Nathan Mensah). By opening night, the Spurs will need to trim the roster down to 15 players and three two-way contracts. If Flynn impresses during training camp, the Spurs could guarantee his contract, but this would necessitate cutting or trading another player.
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Flynn faces stiff competition in San Antonio’s already crowded backcourt. The Spurs have guards like Chris Paul, Tre Jones, Stephon Castle, Blake Wesley, and Malaki Branham, all vying for minutes. With limited depth at the wing and big man positions, Flynn would likely need to outperform one of these guards to secure a spot on the roster. The addition of a seasoned player like Flynn could provide valuable competition for the young Spurs guards, potentially raising the overall level of play.
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