Golden State Warriors: Complete grades for the 2019 NBA offseason
By Phil Watson
Selecting Eric Paschall at No. 41 overall
If the Golden State Warriors reached a lot to take Jordan Poole with the 28th overall pick, they got a surprising gift when Villanova’s rugged Eric Paschall was still on the board at No. 41.
Golden State snagged him with a well-traveled pick that originated with the Los Angeles Lakers, a pick the Dubs purchased from the Atlanta Hawks for $1.3 million n cash and a 2024 second-round pick.
Paschall had been projected in some mock drafts to go as high as the late first round, but concerns about his lack of length (6-foot-9 with a 6-foot-11¾ wingspan) sent him spiraling down the draft board.
Already possessing NBA beef at 255 pounds and the maturity of a five-year college career — he played his freshman year at Fordham before transferring to Villanova for his final three seasons — Paschall has championship experience at the collegiate level and has stretch-4 range.
Paschall showed his range and inside scoring punch during a Summer League stint that was shortened by a tailbone injury. After playing both of Golden State’s games in Sacramento, Paschall made just one appearance in Las Vegas.
He averaged 11.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 24.4 minutes per game, shooting 54.5 percent overall and going 3-for-7 from 3-point range.
He could be counted on to play big minutes in a revamped frontcourt that includes holdovers Draymond Green and Kevon Looney along with an array of newcomers including veteran Willie Cauley-Stein and Serbian rookie Alen Smailagic.
Paschall’s loss in draft position could wind up being the Warriors’ gain.
Grade: A-