Former Toronto Raptors first-round pick Malachi Flynn appears set to leave NBA for Europe

One of the Toronto Raptors’ top recent draft picks might be seeing his NBA career come to a close — and a new chapter of his life begin.

According to multiple reports from European outlets, Turkish club Bahçeşehir appears to be in “advanced talks” to sign Malachi Flynn on a one-year deal worth around one million Euros.

The news was first reported by Greek publication Sport24.gr earlier this week.

Flynn, a 2020 first-round pick by the Raptors out of San Diego State, never quite reached his full potential in Toronto. Across four seasons with the team, he averaged 5.4 points, two assists, and 1.8 rebounds in 175 games for the Raptors in his career.

Flynn had most recently been in the NBA last season with the Charlotte Hornets, though he appeared in just four games for what was his fourth NBA team.

Now 27 years old, Flynn had shown upside in spurts during his time as a pro, but often struggled to generate consistent playing time for himself. In five seasons, Flynn played for five different head coaches, never quite earning the trust of any of them as he never topped more than 13 minutes a night past his rookie campaign.

In December 2023, he was sent from Toronto alongside Precious Achiuwa and OG Anunoby to the New York Knicks in one of the biggest deals in franchise history, where they received RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley in return.

Flynn’s NBA journey then saw him traded to the Detroit Pistons later that same season, highlighted by a shocking 50-point performance in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks, the only time in his career he’s topped 30 points in a game.

Last year, Flynn began the season in the NBA’s G League with the Austin Spurs, affiliated with the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs, where he spent much of the season before signing with the Hornets.

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