Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin has taken a few gambles that have already paid off for Portland's rebuild. He bet against the Milwaukee Bucks when he acquired their future draft capital in the blockbuster Damian Lillard deal. He also bet that Deni Avdija would become a rising star in the league, trading away draft capital, which is almost unheard of for a rebuilding team.
Portland's trades have helped shape its promising future outlook, but the most recent worthwhile gamble Cronin took came from the unconventional draft selection of Yang Hansen.
Yang Hansen could be Portland's missing star
One issue currently limiting the ceiling of Portland's rebuild is that they haven't necessarily hit any home runs in their draft picks despite having multiple attempts at the plate. Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe currently find themselves on the outside looking in of who Portland should consider its core pieces. They have yet to take that next step to emerge as consistent and impactful stars, and may not even be in the starting lineup to begin the season. Donovan Clingan has already justified the No. 7 overall selection in last year's draft with his impact as a rebounder and rim protector. Still, he's very limited offensively, meaning there's a chance this is just who he is as a player for the rest of his career.
The Blazers haven't recently "missed" on a first-round pick other than taking Kris Murray with the No. 23 overall pick in 2023. But they also have yet to land that clear-cut star to be the face of the franchise, which is imperative to have in order to make a deep playoff run out West. That's precisely why we love their swing for the fences with the Hansen selection.
He's already proven in the summer league that he possesses an incredibly high basketball IQ and elite court vision, particularly for his position. Those are traits that you can't necessarily teach a player; for the most part, they either understand the game at a high level or they don't.
The other aspects of Hansen's game will eventually come around. He's already shown a willingness to stretch the floor offensively, shooting a respectable 33.3% from deep in those four summer league games. With his size, footwork, passing, and improved shot, Hansen can serve as an offensive hub for Portland, similarly to how Nikola Jokic is utilized in Denver. The Blazers could even play him alongside Clingan in a double big lineup for stretches, depending on matchups and how the shooting comes along.
It's still possible that Portland's Hansen gamble backfires. But that risk is significantly mitigated by the fact that they a) traded back in the draft to acquire him, picking up valuable assets along the way, and b) already have an insurance plan in place at the center position with the safe floor of Clingan. Mid-first-round picks don't pan out all the time in the NBA, and if that is the case for Portland, it's not going to set back their rebuild significantly. Hansen has legitimate star upside if his strengths translate to the NBA. That alone is worth taking a flyer on for Portland, especially with the minimal risk involved.