The Melbourne Tigers will sign former NBA lottery pick Jonny Flynn as a replacement for the departing Kevin Braswell, a story first reported in this column nine days ago.

Braswell was axed after the Tigers picked up their first victory of the season on Sunday, defeating the Townsville Crocodiles 91-66.

Despite yesterday's triumph, the wheels were already in motion and Braswell was a dead man walking as the Tigers made moves to remedy their abysmal 0-4 start to the season.

Flynn, 23, was expected to arrive in Australia last Thursday and the Tigers were hoping he would suit up on Sunday against the Crocodiles, but due to Hurricane Sandy Flynn was unable to get on a flight.

Flynn, the sixth pick in the 2009 NBA draft, has played with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets and Portland Trail-Blazers. On July 20th this year, the Blazers renounced their free-agent rights to Flynn. He was with the Detroit Pistons through the 2012 preseason but waived on October 22nd.

Voted in the All-Rookie second team in 2010 after averaging 13.5ppg and 4.4apg in his first season, Flynn averaged 1.6ppg and 2.6apg in three preseason appearances with the Pistons.

A product of Syracuse University, Flynn, a six-foot tall point-guard, averaged 9.2ppg and 3.9apg in three NBA seasons.

Flynn's contract with the Tigers will have an opt-out clause that will allow him to return to the NBA if he secures a new deal.

Flynn replaces Braswell, who has battled through injury and pain to play this season.

Braswell averaged 10.0ppg, while shooting at 31% (17/54) from the field and 17% (4/24) from behind the three-point line, with 5.2apg in five games.

Flynn will be the Tigers' ninth import in the last three seasons and it will be the sixth consecutive season the Tigers have made roster changes involving imports.

Last Friday, Tigers head coach Chris Anstey emphatically denied BackPageLead's report that Braswell was about to be replaced.

The Tigers host the Adelaide 36ers this weekend.