MINNEAPOLIS — Eric Paschall hasn’t enjoyed his free agency process this offseason. In fact, it nearly ended the 25-year-old’s playing career.
“It was one hell of a trip, I say,” Paschall said.
The 6-foot-6 forward has been a big part of his three NBA seasons, starting games for Utah and Golden State. He made 37% of his 3-point shot attempts last season. He felt like he had shown he could even defend on the perimeter. Yet when it hit the open market over the summer, there wasn’t much interest.
“Honestly, it was a whirlwind of emotions,” Paschall said. “Like, I’m at home, working out, everyone’s getting calls. I’m not. I showed it . . . So it was like what was going on?
There were times Paschall considered going overseas to play, but at other times he thought about giving up the sport altogether. Maybe, he thought, a break was needed.
Instead, he decided he might as well extend his career for at least one more season. Frankly, the Villanova product doesn’t know what he would be doing if he wasn’t playing basketball. At 25, he has just entered the prime of life. Calling it a wrap didn’t make sense now.
But it was a glimpse of Paschall’s mindset in the offseason.
“I feel like mentally I wasn’t in the best place. Just tired. I was like, ‘Ah, I could just quit playing basketball,'” he said. just that sanity is real. Some days were good, some days were bad. Even in last year’s season, some days I felt good, some days I just wasn’t. But you have to fight to see another day. That was about it.
He got away with it through conversations with his peers, including Cavaliers star guard Donovan Mitchell, who played with Paschall at Utah last season. Mitchell was in Paschall’s ear “(darn) almost every day”, telling the forward he couldn’t give up on his career.
“So we had a lot of difficult conversations. But he was a big help. Taj Bell, who plays overseas, he’s been a big help,” Paschall said. “(Retired Villanova) coach Jay Wright has been tremendous during this process. Of course, my family, my agent, my friends back home… were also very helpful. I had a lot of good people in my area. And I must have had a lot of tough conversations, but I’m glad I had them.
Because it led Paschall to Minnesota. Well, those conversations and his previous relationship with Timberwolves assistant general manager Dell Demps, who coached Paschall at Utah. Demps informed Paschall that Wolves had a place available both ways, and Paschall accepted the offer.
“It wasn’t really the easiest decision. I must have had a lot of tough conversations about it,” Paschall said. “But I feel like I’m in a really good position now. Pretty happy I’m here.
And he’s ready to help the Timberwolves in any way he can.
“Just keep playing like I am. Just try to be a dog,” he said. “Bring that toughness, bring that grit. And always play basketball the right way. I feel like that I can do this anywhere. They just give me an opportunity.
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