He was “the target” of the Blazers, and no one had seen him coming. Yang Hansen is undoubtedly the surprise of this first round, and what a surprise, from 16th place in the Draft 2025.
The Chinese was very present at the Barclays Center, but not in the “Green Room”. The new Portland player had to get off from the stands, while other players invited by the NBA to be at the forefront were still waiting for their turn. Yang Hansen was not expected so high, far from it, rather in the middle of the second round, possibly around 35th. But the temptation was too great for the Oregon franchise, which had a real crush on the former Qingdao player.
All-Star in its national championship for its first two professional seasons, Yang Hansen (2m16, 115kgs) run at 16.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2 passes and 2.6 against. Honorable figures, but not enough to make the new Yao Ming, or even Yi Jianlian, sixth choice of the 2006 Draft. And the GM des Blazers, Joe Cronin, was forced to assume in the preamble His press conference Wednesday that this choice was “not conventional“.
The Blazers feared being robbed
Portland cracked for Yang Hansen and had to tinker to make sure not to have the grass cut under the foot. Holders of the 11th choice, the Blazers sent it at the start of the Draft to the Grizzlies, who selected Cedric Coward, the full winger of Washington State. Their 16th choice freshly recovered left them still beautiful prospects with the leaders Kasparas Jakucionis and Walter Clayton Jr, or the French Joan Beringer or Nolan Traoré. But none surpassed in their eyes that leading to the player who celebrates his 20th anniversary this Thursday.
“” “This time, we went around with this choice, and we did not find something that we loved more than the opportunity to do what we did tonight“Said Joe Cronin.”The question is always to know how far you can go back and have a realistic chance of having it. And how viable it is to go down to this level. We were not at ease to descend under the 16th choice. For us, it was too important to have it. We have chosen to do what some call a 'reach'. We decided to do this blow and anticipate, technically, for a player we really estimated. It shows what we think of him.»
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqzfdhlnjdi
The Blazers were thus on the Yang Hansen file for two years, after having observed it during a U18 competition. Since then, Portland had sent Mike Schmitz and Sergi Oliva, GM assistants, in China to deepen their impressions. “” “I also made a 'pre-workout' with them last month“Said Yang Hansen at the media After his selection. “” “Everything went well and I was able to interact with certain leaders. But in the end, it is beyond my wildest dreams. I expected to be selected at the end of the first round. So it's clearly a big surprise for me to be called in the middle of this first round.»
The “Chinese Jokic”
With Yang Hansen, the 12th of the Western Conference this season hopes to have recovered a future superstar, no more, no less. A source of the nuggets thus qualified the pivot as “Nikola Jokic Chinese» To the Jake Fischer journalist by The Stein Line.
“” “Nobody is Jokic“Retorted Joe Cronin, while showing himself glowing on his catch. “The bar is high. But with regard to its ability to pass the ball, there are not many interiors of its size which can do it like it.”
“” “Its potential is very large“Deciphered Joe Cronin in length.”It is extremely difficult to find a young player from his size with such technical qualities. And we could see that the very, very technical interiors that can do anything that Yang can do typically in this league. He is obviously large with his 2m16, he is young, and his luggage is of high level. Its ability to distribute. His basketball. His arrangements at the low position. His ability to depart. We believe that he will become a good shooter with free throws. We believe that he can also put fire from afar. Defensively, he is a very intelligent player who can be very versatile. One thing that I noted during these playoffs is the way the teams won think the game, their intelligence and their ability to make the other best. This is what Yang brings. His basketball is very, very high.»
The Blazers are demanding patience
Dithyrambic, Joe Cronin wanted to calm the game on this hidden gem that the Blazers would have found. “” “We will insist a lot in order to make him work and make him reach his summit“Explained the leader of the franchise.”I'm just going to ask, give it a little time. Let him settle down and watch him grow. And I think everyone will be pleasantly surprised.»
The fact remains that for that, the Blazers will have to find an urgent solution to their XXL traffic jam in post 5, already overcrowded. Portland had recovered Donovan Clingan during the last draft, Robert Williams III in an exchange, in addition to Deandre Ayton and Duop Reath. Yang Hansen will undoubtedly need a little time in G-League to get along, but it will also be necessary to degrease to offer him some opportunities.
“” “We will manage this over time“Replies Joe Cronin, insisting rather on the variety of profiles of his workforce. And on this mysterious Yang Hansen of which they hope so much in their reconstruction.
