While we believe rookie Yang Hansen deserves minutes in the Portland Trail Blazers' crowded frontcourt, it doesn't seem like interim head coach Tiago Splitter agrees. There was so much justified hype surrounding Hansen, who showed a ton of promise throughout the offseason. However, early on, it hasn't been able to translate to the regular season.
Hansen is averaging just 1.8 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 0.4 blocks per game while shooting 22.2% from the field. This isn't entirely on him, as the Blazers haven't put him in an optimal position to succeed.
The Blazers aren't putting Yang Hansen in a position to succeed
After the shocking draft selection, Portland emphasized that they don't view Hansen as a project. However, his limited opportunities contradict this, as he's averaging just 5.8 minutes per game, including three consecutive DNP-Coach's Decisions.
Splitter was recently asked what the plan is with Hansen, to which he responded: "I don't know. I understand there are a lot of expectations. For now, he's going to keep working out, getting better -- getting in NBA shape, the speed and all that... we just have to be patient with him. Right now, I don't want to put him there in the fire; we just have to be careful there."
Heading into the season, Hansen was projected to be the backup center spelling Donovan Clingan, but he's rapidly fallen down Portland's depth chart. Robert Williams III and Duop Reath are both playing well enough to justify that decision by Splitter, who has also experimented with small-ball lineups without a traditional center.
This raises the question of what the point of selecting Hansen was in the first place.
Cedric Coward would've been a better fit for Portland's roster
The Blazers were already stacked in the frontcourt and had their center of the future established in Clingan, who earned that distinction after an encouraging All-Rookie campaign. They could have better balanced out their roster by adding more shooting with a prospect like Cedric Coward.
Portland traded back with the Memphis Grizzlies on draft day, and Memphis ultimately landed Coward with Portland's initial No. 11 overall pick. That's proving to be a win for the Grizzlies as Coward is averaging an impressive 14.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.1 steals per game on 54/41/90 shooting splits.
Coward also has a 7-foot-2 wingspan, making him a versatile defender and valuable two-way player. His defense, shooting, and shot creation would've been a much better roster fit for Portland's strengths and weaknesses compared to Hansen. The Blazers have had to rely on players like Kris Murray and Sidy Cissoko for wing depth, especially with Matisse Thybulle sidelined due to a thumb injury. Coward would've provided Portland with an immediate upgrade to help boost their chances of returning to playoff relevancy, while also improving their long-term outlook due to his seamless fit.
While it's too early to say definitively that Coward would've been the better option, it's certainly trending that way. One standout rookie is emerging in a strong draft class, while the other is, by his own coach's admission, not ready for the NBA.