The Portland Trail Blazers drafting Yang Hansen was confusing... If you're dumb, that is! Okay, sorry, that was harsh; I don't actually think you're dumb if you were confused by the Yang Hansen pick in the draft, but about a month into Hansen's rookie season and Donovan Clingan's sophomore campaign, we're seeing Clingan start to become the play-finishing, rim-protecting big man that Blazers fans realized he could be last season.
We're also (very slowly) starting to see some of the offensive promise that Yang Hansen brings to the table, as well. The question of how these two players, and how their two distinctive styles, fit together on the court, is a fair one.
But it's also important to remember that if both Clingan and Hansen are good enough to where fans are clamoring for both of them to play... Then things went right.
Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen might not need to coexist
When you hear the words "sixth man," you likely don't think of a low post, offensive-minded, slick-passing center, but what if that's the role Hansen eventually plays for the Blazers? A second-unit offensive force on the low block who injects life into the Blazers bench?
It might not be as thrilling as thinking of Hansen as a multi-time All-Star, and yeah, obviously it would be great if he becomes that player, but Hansen is a big-time project. If he becomes the offensive safety net for Donovan Clingan on nights when the Blazers aren't clicking on that end, that's still a positive result! He was the No. 16 overall pick in the draft, not the No. 1.
Rolling out the twin towers lineup with both Clingan and Hansen would be fun, surely, but it might not make much sense in the modern NBA; and that's fine! There are lots of minutes to go around in an NBA frontcourt, and one of these guys finding success doesn't mean the other suddenly becomes a castoff.
Donovan Clingan breaking out would be great for everyone
A rising tide lifts all boats, and Clingan's tide is rising right now. He's posted 9 blocks in his past three games, double-digit rebounds in all of them, and scored in double-digits two of those three games. He's starting to look far more comfortable and assert himself in the interrior, too. It's all coming together.
In those same games, Yang Hansen has gotten his first rel stint on the floor, playing 21 total minutes in the past two games, and also looking more comfortable than he did in preseason.
Clingan securing the starting center spot may seem like a bad thing for Yang Hansen. But these two guys can both be quality NBA centers; if anything, their developments complement each other, not the other way around. More good players is... Good!