Yang Hansen showcases a needed skill in Blazers second preseason game

After a relatively disappointing preseason debut, Trail Blazers rookie Yang Hansen bounced back nicely in Portland's narrow 124-123 win over the Sacramento Kings. Hansen played 17 minutes in the contest, totaling 16 points, four rebounds, one assist, and three blocks. He had a well-rounded game, showcasing multiple strengths that made him such an intriguing prospect for the Blazers' front office. Arguably, the most promising skill he displayed was his shooting.

Hansen connected on back-to-back three-pointers in the third quarter; he finished the game shooting 5-of-8 from the field and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc, so it wasn't a huge sample size by any means. Still, the fact that Hansen is already a three-point threat at this stage in his career is going to do wonders for both his own game and Portland's offense as a whole.

Yang Hansen is already elevating the Blazers' offense

One example of how this will benefit Hansen's game was when Kings center (and ex-Blazer) Drew Eubanks had to close out on Hansen on the perimeter after a pass from Blake Wesley. Hansen pump faked, then made himself a smoothie by putting Eubanks in the blender.

Hansen proved in this second preseason game that the "Baby Jokic" comparisons are legitimate. Eventually, Portland will be able to utilize Hansen as an offensive hub, similarly to how the Nuggets take advantage of Jokic's unique skillset. Hansen's ability and, just as importantly, willingness to shoot the three-ball are going to be important so that he can keep defenses honest, which will allow him to play more to his strengths.

It's not just vital to Hansen unlocking his own star potential, either. The Blazers have been a bottom-of-the-barrel three-point shooting team the past two seasons and just lost Anfernee Simons this summer. They're going to need help in that department, which was already apparent in these first two preseason games as they shot 16-of-48 (33.3%) in their loss to Golden State and 10-of-37 (27.0%) in their win over Sacramento.

The Blazers aren't a great shooting team, but one thing they do well on the offensive end is get downhill. Deni Avdija is the notable one with his rare combination of speed and physicality, but Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson are also figuring out how to best utilize their athleticism to attack the paint as well. Having a center like Hansen to bring out the opposing team's rim protector will help the rest of Portland's young core reach its potential. So, between his passing and floor spacing, Hansen is already giving the Blazers a much-needed boost on the offensive end.