The Portland Trail Blazers took a massive gamble with their unconventional selection of Yang Hansen with the No. 16 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. We're just two games into summer league for the Blazers, but it's already apparent that Portland made the right call going against the norm.
In his Summer League debut with the Blazers, Hansen recorded ten points, five assists, four rebounds, three blocks, and one steal, shooting 3-of-7 from the field. He then followed up that performance with ten points, five rebounds, three assists, and one block while shooting 4-of-8 from the field in Portland's loss to Memphis.
Hansen isn't a flawless prospect -- the two most pressing aspects he'll need to improve are his conditioning and turnovers (he's totaled eight in two games). But the pros have significantly outweighed the cons during his limited sample size in a Blazers jersey.
It sure looks like Portland landed a steal in Yang Hansen
It's going to take time for Hansen to become a dominant post scorer -- if he ever becomes that. But his well-rounded stat lines throughout two contests highlight his ability to impact winning without having to score.
Hansen already possesses an elite ability to process the game and anticipate plays, which, combined with his 7-foot-1 frame that allows him to see over the defense, makes him an exceptional passer. The comparisons to the league's premier bigs, such as Nikola Jokic and Alperen Sengun, aren't as far-fetched as initially thought, at least from a passing standpoint.
Hansen's combination of frame and basketball IQ is two things you can't teach. And it's what gives him a high floor to the point where Portland felt comfortable taking a projected second-round prospect at No. 16.
Hansen is going to provide Portland with a yin-and-yang pairing with Donovan Clingan. That will be essential for them in the coming seasons, given Clingan's conditioning level and Robert Williams III's injury history (in addition to his expiring contract and uncertain future in Portland).
The reason we love this gamble for Portland is that Hansen possesses one of the highest ceilings of prospects available in the mid-first round. They needed to take a home run swing at someone like Hansen to finally add star power to catch up in the loaded Western Conference.
His court vision and potential to become an offensive hub are going to significantly help unlock Portland's lackluster offense. He's a perfect piece to surround the Blazers' athletic and defensive-minded young core.
And best of all, the Summer League is already proving that his floor isn't as low as initially perceived. Hansen already checks all the boxes for what it takes to stick around and make an impact in the league.