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Eric Paschall has best chance to contribute immediately of any Golden State Warriors’ rookie

By Nathan Beighle

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 16: Eric Paschall #4 of the Villanova Wildcats dribbles around Myles Cale #22 of the Seton Hall Pirates during the Big East Men's Basketball Championship at Madison Square Garden on March 16, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 16: Eric Paschall #4 of the Villanova Wildcats dribbles around Myles Cale #22 of the Seton Hall Pirates during the Big East Men's Basketball Championship at Madison Square Garden on March 16, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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The Golden State Warriors will have three rookies in their final 15, and of those three, Eric Paschall has the best chance to actually contribute.

Unlike in year’s past, the Golden State Warriors finished the NBA Draft with more than their two allotted picks. That said, the Dubs secured three rookies during the 2019 NBA Draft.

Those three included first-round pick Jordan Poole and second-round picks Eric Paschall and Alen Smailagic. While all three aren’t highly valued prospects, the Warriors expect each to contribute in some sort of way on a team that may have severe depth issues.

For the Dubs, they should expect Eric Paschall to be the first and potentially only rookie to significantly contribute to this championship-caliber team. For starters, he’s already a champion, winning a collegiate title in 2018 with Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges.

During his final season at Villanova, without Brunson and Bridges, Paschall stepped up, averaging over 16 points per game. He also chipped in over six rebounds and two assists per game, helping lead a depleted Villanova roster.

While those numbers won’t immediately translate to the NBA, with time, they could. Given his NBA size, at 6-foot-8, 255 pounds, Paschall will be able to hold his own in the paint with the bigger NBA-sized forwards.

At Nova, Paschall also improved his three-point shooting in each season. He ended up averaging 1.9 threes per game. A big man that can shoot is exactly what Golden State needs, especially one that can give solid minutes to Golden State behind Draymond Green.

The Warriors have that spot available.

If he can put in the work and get consistent enough with his shot, Kerr should give him time. Not a spot-up shooter like Poole and not a rim-rolling big like Smailagic, but he’s a player that should give Kerr solid, turnover-free minutes.

Paschall only played one game in the 2019 NBA Summer League. In that game, he put together a complete stat line, totaling 12 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in 25 minutes. If that’s what Kerr can expect from Paschall, he’ll have a great career ahead of him.

Next. Top 25 Golden State Warriors in franchise history. dark

Paschall should be able to immediately thrive with the Warriors.

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