Miami Heat NBA Draft: Was KZ Okpala the right pick?
By Jack Simone
Players the Miami Heat passed on for KZ Okpala: Eric Paschall
Eric Paschall would have been the perfect player for the Miami Heat to select. Hindsight is 20/20, but his playstyle would be an amazing fit next to Bam Adebayo.
The Golden State Warriors picked Paschall with the 41st pick in the 2019 draft. This was only nine selections after Okpala was taken by the Heat.
At 6-6, Paschall may be undersized to play the four, but he still plays the position well. He can space the floor, and even if he isn’t the best defender, Adebayo would have covered for him perfectly.
Last season, Paschall averaged 9.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. He shot 49.7% from the field and 33.3% from deep.
Though his shooting percentage from deep isn’t great, he is consistently improving from that range. Other than that, he’s a solid mid-range shooter.
Paschall has the potential to turn into a legitimate stretch four who can spend some time at the three as well. He burst onto the scene as a rookie, averaging 14 points per game in his first year.
His play would help shore up Miami’s hole at power forward for a very cheap price. Paschall would have made a much bigger impact than Okpala has in a Miami Heat uniform.
Should the Miami Heat have taken Paschall?: Yes