NBA Rookie Ladder: No Zion Williamson, no problem

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10: Eric Paschall, Golden State Warriors

13.0 PPG, 3.0 REB, 1.8 AST

Given the rough situation the Golden State Warriors find themselves in to start the season, any bright spots are welcome by the fan base.

Good news is that Eric Paschall is already starting to look like a player who will have a productive NBA career and is exceeding initial expectations.

Proving he can score from the perimeter consistently to match his energy around the basket on lobs and put backs should be his main priority. The soft touch on his floater and mid-range shots is encouraging and given his mechanics he should be able to extend his range consistently over time.

Defensively he’s a fit with a lot of the schematics that the Warriors have employed for years with Draymond Green front and center as a mismatch big. Paschall’s size and agility are eerily similar to Green’s, so getting him the reps and experience on that end will be crucial to the team’s depth chart moving forward.

The good news is he’s smart and savvy enough of a player to make the correct reads on both ends of the floor.

Paschall will get plenty of opportunities as the season goes on given that Golden State is likely out of the playoff race with the injury to Stephen Curry‘s hand.