Don't get us wrong, Yang Hansen has been impressive throughout his first three summer league games with the Portland Trail Blazers.
He's shown different flashes each game that help fans better understand why Portland took an unconventional gamble on this widely projected second-round pick. The highlight dunks, ability to direct both sides of the ball, high IQ passes, footwork, rim protection, and floor spacing all make the Blazers' front office look genius for being so invested in Hansen for multiple years now.
That said, Hansen must drastically improve his rebounding for the Blazers.
Yang Hansen can't start for Blazers until he improves his rebounding
In their recent summer league win over the New Orleans Pelicans, Hansen finished with 15 points, three rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and one steal. He also had four rebounds in their win over Golden State and five rebounds in their loss to Memphis.
We love that Hansen is committed to boxing out the closest guy, which certainly plays a role in his low rebound total. For instance, Caleb Love finished with a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds in part because, on multiple occasions, Hansen was clearing the way for someone like Love to grab it uncontested. Still, at 7-foot-1, Hansen must be more assertive and physically dominant on the glass.
Thanks to Hansen's impressive summer league, the Blazers center battle between him and Donovan Clingan could be closer than expected. Both centers fit into Portland's system in different ways. For Clingan, it's the fact that his rebounding and rim protection can anchor a top ten defense next season. Meanwhile, Hansen's passing and basketball IQ allow him to serve as an offensive hub to complement the Blazers' athletic backcourt.
While Clingan's underrated passing ability and Hansen's rim protection add nuance to the comparison, these remain the standout traits for each center. And with the Blazers' trading offense for defense with the swap of Anfernee Simons for Jrue Holiday, it's clear that Portland prefers to double down on their strengths to bolster their identity.
If Hansen can't improve his rebounding, it will be difficult for him to overtake Clingan as Portland's starting center. His defensive limitations would likely prevent them from becoming an elite defense, which is required to become a contender, given the question marks surrounding their offense.
Hansen's lack of rebounding gets even more concerning considering that the Blazers are likely stuck with Jerami Grant and his massive contract for the next three years. Despite his 6-foot-7 frame, Grant is shockingly a horrible rebounder, averaging just 3.5 in 32.4 minutes per game this past season. The Blazers will have difficulty with their rotations, considering Grant and Hansen likely can't effectively play together in the frontcourt. The obvious solution is to trade Grant, but given that he's still on the team, it's clear that's easier said than done.
Regardless, Hansen must address his rebounding deficiency to reach his ceiling, no matter who he's playing alongside. Portland's defensive identity won't fully work without a reliable defensive anchor in the middle.