Yang Hansen has looked like an entirely different player in Summer League and, more recently, the G League, compared to his NBA stint with the Trail Blazers. That's typically the case with any player, but the disparity is much more extreme with Hansen.
With the Rip City Remix, Hansen has been able to play more to his strengths. They've utilized him as that offensive hub, initiating the offense at the top of the key and taking advantage of his elite court vision. He's also able to anchor the middle defensively, in large part due to the size at 7-foot-1, 270 pounds.
We've seen those flashes of upside and what Portland ultimately envisions his role to be at the NBA level. Unfortunately, his shaky rookie campaign has proven what many expected when Portland drafted him -- that's still a long way from becoming reality.
Yang Hansen's rocky adjustment to the NBA
Hansen has struggled to utilize that skill set at the NBA level, as he's not ready to have the ball in his hands or initiate an offense. To provide value to the Blazers, he either needs to become good enough to be the offensive hub they envision. Or, a more likely outcome, find a way to impact the game without having the ball in his hands as frequently.
The issue right now is that Portland understandably doesn't run the offense through Hansen, which prevents him from playing to his strengths. Additionally, his weaknesses are exposed as he continues to adjust to the speed of the game.
That's why Hansen looks like the steal of the draft in Summer League or G League action, but so far looks lost in the NBA. He's an incredibly skilled but unique player who needs to be put in the right position to succeed. Whether he can find those circumstances at the NBA level remains to be seen, but it's been a frustrating transition for everyone involved in the unconventional selection.
The Blazers have somewhat thrown Hansen into the fire for stretches of the season because they've had no other choice due to injuries piling up. But what we have seen in those limited stretches has been concerning regarding how this skillset will translate to the NBA. That was the problem all along with Hansen. The talent was undeniable, but there was a reason he was a widely projected second-round pick.
Portland is just about to close out the season, and its rookie has done virtually nothing to address those concerns many had entering the draft. He still has plenty of time to figure out how to translate that success to the next level. But the longer it takes, the more questionable this already controversial pick becomes.