NBA

Raptors pick up options on Malachi Flynn, Scottie Barnes, Precious Achiuwa

Raptors forward Scottie Barnes on coming off bench - 'It was a little different, for sure'

The Toronto Raptors have picked up the options of Malachi Flynn, Scottie Barnes, and Precious Achiuwa. Flynn’s $3,873,025 team option for the 2023-24 season was exercised.

This is part of the four-year, $10 million rookie scale contract he signed with the Raptors in 2020. Of course, Toronto exercised Flynn’s $2,145,720 team option for the 2022-23 season last October.

According to a few NBA betting sites, the Raptors have the 16th-highest odds of winning the championship in 2023. Their title odds are low, but some sportsbooks are anticipating another playoff appearance.

Flynn was selected 29th overall by the Raptors in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Last season, in 44 appearances, Flynn averaged 4.3 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. Plus, he shot 39.3% from the field and 33.3% from 3-point range.

On March 4, 2022, in the Raptors’ 103-97 loss against the Orlando Magic, the guard scored a season-high 20 points in 39 minutes of action. He finished 7-of-14 (50%) shooting from the floor and 4-of-7 (57.1%) from downtown.

Raptors exercise the options of Malachi Flynn, Scottie Barnes, and Precious Achiuwa

Moreover, G.M. Bobby Webster also picked up Achiuwa’s fourth-year option. In 2020, the Memphis product was selected 20th overall by the Miami Heat.

Following the 2019-20 season, the Heat traded Achiuwa to the Raptors. In the 2021-22 season, the forward played center for Toronto. He averaged 9.1 points, 6.5 boards, and 1.1 assists in 73 appearances.

In the Raptors’ 119-114 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on April 7, 2022, Achiuwa recorded a season-high 20 points in 40 minutes played. He ended the regular season with six double-doubles.

During the first round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs, the center logged playoff career highs of 10.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 27.8 minutes per game against the 76ers.

Not to mention, Barnes’ third-year club option of his rookie contract was exercised as well. He is projected to earn $8,008,680 with the Raptors in the 2023-24 season.

His team options are part of the four-year, $33.06 million deal he signed with the team last August.

The Raptors selected Barnes fourth overall out of Florida State in the 2021 NBA Draft. In 74 starts of his rookie season, the guard averaged 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.1 steals.

He won Rookie of the Year and was selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

Entering the 2022-23 season, the Raptors are aiming to improve upon last season’s 48-34 (.585) record and fifth-place finish in the Eastern Conference.

With Malachi Flynn, Scottie Barnes, and Precious Achiuwa present to support Zach LaVine and Pascal Siakam, anything is possible. But the team has to stay healthy. That should go without saying.