Getty Golden State Warriors forward Eric Paschall during a game in February 2021 against the Charlotte Hornets.
The Golden State Warriors have made their first trade of the offseason, sending forward Eric Paschall to the Utah Jazz in exchange for a protected future second-round pick.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski broke the news on August 4, and Paschall confirmed it a short while later, writing, “Going to miss dub nation! Love y’all! Love my teammates!”
BREAKING: The Warriors reportedly have traded Eric Paschall to the Jazz
The latest Warriors news straight to your inbox! Join the Heavy on Warriors newsletter here!
HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported that “the Warriors are acquiring a 2026 second-round pick from the Grizzlies that’s top-42 protected via the Jazz in the Eric Paschall trade.”
The Warriors are acquiring a 2026 second-round pick from the Grizzlies that’s top-42 protected via the Jazz in the Eric Paschall trade, a league source told @hoopshype. Paschall and Jazz star Donovan Mitchell are close friends and are now reunited in Utah.
The move comes the same day when the team officially announced that they had waived Alen Smailagic, but shortly after adding Nemanja Bjelica and Otto Porter to the fold and re-signing Stephen Curry to a gargantuan contract extension.
The Trade Will Reunite Paschall & Donovan Mitchell
GettyUtah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell during a game against the Golden State Warriors in January 2021.
Although Paschall will need to get used to an entirely new organization following the trade, he’ll have a close friend to help him with the process, as Scotto noted.
Paschall was born in North Tarrytown, New York, in November 1996, while current Jazz star Donovan Mitchell was born in nearby Elmsford in September 1996. Though Mitchell ended up going to prep school in Connecticut before college, he and Paschall played AAU basketball together and became close, The Salt Lake Tribune reported.
“Crazy full circle moment!!” Mitchell wrote on Twitter.
Though they are both 24 now, Mitchell entered the NBA two years before Paschall — selected 13th overall in the 2017 draft — after playing two seasons at Louisville. The newest member of Utah was drafted 41st overall by the Warriors in 2019.
Paschall Had a Solid Rookie Season With the Dubs, Numbers Fell in 2020-2021
GettyGolden State Warriors forward Eric Paschall during a game against the Charlotte Hornets in February 2021.
Paschall made his NBA debut on October 24, 2019, in the Dubs season-opener against the Los Angeles Clippers as the first guy off the bench and immediately impressed. He poured in 14 points — tied with Jacob Evans for third on the team only behind Curry and D’Angelo Russell — on 6-for-13 shooting, and added four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
The 2019-2020 pandemic-altered campaign was an especially brutal one for Golden State, as Klay Thompson was unable to suit up and Curry was limited to five games due to injury. At 15-50, the Dubs season ended for good in March, as they didn’t qualify for the NBA bubble.
Despite the rough year for the team as a whole, Paschall showed signs of a bright future with the club, finishing with averages of 14 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 27.6 minutes per game in a team-high 60 contests played. The 6-foot-6 forward was named a first team All-Rookie alongside that season’s Rookie of the Year Ja Morant, as well as All-Star Zion Williamson, former Gonzaga star Brandon Clarke and guard Kendrick Nunn.
Going to miss dub nation! Love y’all! Love my teammates!
While the Dubs’ record improved drastically to 39-33 this past season — though they failed to qualify for the postseason — Paschall’s playing time dropped, as did some of his numbers. In his 40 games played between 2020 and 2021, Paschall posted 9.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 17.4 minutes per contest, while posting a 49.7/33.3/71.3 shooting line.
READ NEXT: Warriors Add Sharpshooting Big Man on 1-Year Deal: Report