The Portland Trail Blazers took an unnecessary gamble when they decided to trade back in the 2025 NBA Draft, ultimately selecting Yang Hansen with the No. 16 overall pick. That decision has yet to pay off, and recent developments should have Blazers fans concerned about the bust potential surrounding this pick.
With Donovan Clingan (lower leg) and Robert Williams III (illness) out in their contest against the Memphis Grizzlies, Portland's rookie received his first career start. Unfortunately, it was clear Hansen wasn't ready for the occasion, finishing with just four points, five rebounds, two assists, and two turnovers while shooting 2-of-5 from the field in 19 minutes. Hansen played limited minutes despite his anticipated starting debut as he fell into foul trouble early, matched up against physical 7-foot-3 center Zach Edey.
It wasn't all bad for Hansen, as it was a tale of two halves. He was much more comfortable and confident in the second half, which contributed to a +2 despite the Blazers' blowout 119-96 loss. Interim head coach Tiago Splitter also relied on stretch five Duop Reath in an increased role as a result of the depleted frontcourt, but he finished with a -16 in 19 minutes, proving Hansen is the more reliable option and justifying his position on the depth chart.
Yang Hansen is starting to look like a bust in Portland
Still, this was an underwhelming performance for Hansen's highly anticipated starting debut. There was so much hype surrounding the shocking pick that no one saw coming, especially after Hansen's promising play throughout summer league and in training camp. So far, that hasn't translated into regular-season success, as Hansen has averaged 2.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.8 assists on just 29/7/90 shooting splits.
To his credit, it's been an entirely different story when Hansen has been demoted to the G League, as he's averaging 16.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.3 steals, and 2.0 blocks while shooting 46.3% from the field and 30.8% from beyond the arc in three games with the Rip City Remix. But that also highlights a significant issue surrounding Hansen as a prospect.
A primary reason why Hansen was a universally projected second-round pick was because of concerns pertaining to his ability to translate his strengths from the CBA to the NBA. In terms of physical tools, a lot of what he was able to get away with in the CBA has not applied to the NBA, but is easier to get away with in the G League -- hence the vast difference in production.
At 20 years old, Hansen still has plenty of time to shed this bust label. It's also not entirely his fault, as the unconventional selection has placed unrealistic expectations on the Blazers' rookie. But as of now, Hansen is unfortunately trending in that direction. He has a long way to go before making a significant impact for Portland, and his first start proved that.
It's a draft decision that's beginning to frustrate fans, as they see the picks Portland could've pursued instead -- Cedric Coward, Derik Queen, etc. -- already breaking out elsewhere after the Blazers got cute with their pick.