3 Players to watch in Timberwolves’ preseason opener vs. Heat
By Will Eudy
3. Eric Paschall
The Timberwolves’ other two-way roster spot is filled by Rudy Gobert’s former Utah Jazz teammate, Eric Paschall. After an up and down first three seasons in the NBA, Paschall is getting a fresh start in Minnesota, and he could end up as a sneaky good addition.
After being named to the NBA All-Rookie team in his first season with the Golden State Warriors, Paschall ran into trouble when he encountered injuries that ultimately forced him further down Steve Kerr’s depth chart. This led to his trade to the Jazz a season later.
While he didn’t have a great season in Utah and averaged just 5.8 points, there’s still reason to believe he can play a legitimate role on this Minnesota Timberwolves team.
Paschall modernized his game by taking 46% of his shot attempts from outside the arc last season, up from 18.1% in the season prior. As a result of getting more comfortable with shooting from distance, his three-point percentage rose to a respectable 37% in 2021-22.
With Paschall incorporating more tactical shot-taking into his game, he has the potential to develop into a rotational 3-and-D player for Chris Finch and his staff.
Look for him to take full advantage of matchups versus younger players against the Heat, and show that he still belongs in this league.
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