Yang Hansen has looked like a completely different player in the G League compared to the NBA. That's typically the case, but not quite to this extent.
Everything the Portland Trail Blazers liked about Hansen coming over from the CBA has translated to the G League. We see that in his interior dominance, footwork, court vision, and basketball IQ. It's incredibly early in his young career, but unfortunately, none of this has applied to the NBA level.
His role is different in the NBA, but it's also a problem with how his game translates to the speed, physicality, and competitiveness. Interim head coach Tiago Splitter has said he doesn't want to throw Hansen into the fire, which is understandable as he's looked lost on both ends of the court.
Yang Hansen is better off in the G League
Now halfway through the season, we haven't seen enough progress from Hansen. At this point, the Blazers would be better off simply keeping him in the G League. That way, he can get valuable reps and boost his confidence until he's actually ready for NBA competition. It may feel like a disappointing outcome given the hype surrounding Hansen after the Blazers shocked the world by selecting him with the No. 16 overall pick. But at the same time, that's what would be best for him at this point in his career.
If the Blazers do decide for Hansen to take this path, it wouldn't be a lost season by any means. He's just 20 years old, and this was a lot for him to take on at once, both in terms of adjusting to life in the NBA and the United States. His NBA journey is far from over, but he needs more time until he's actually able to make a positive impact on the Blazers.
Thanks to a recent five-game winning streak, the Blazers suddenly find themselves in the playoff conversation, sitting 9th in the Western Conference at 19-22. If they do want to return to the postseason, the margin for error is so thin that they can't afford to play developmental projects like Hansen for extended stretches.
That may leave them thin in the frontcourt, but any option is better than Hansen at this point, whether that means playing Duop Reath as a stretch five or Jerami Grant in small-ball lineups.
Portland didn't view Hansen as a project-type situation, and some even expected him to be the primary backup to spell Donovan Clingan entering the season. It's safe to say his rookie campaign has not gone according to plan. That's okay, as the appeal with him as a prospect was always going to be his long-term upside.
But in the interest of both Hansen's long-term development and Portland's short-term playoff aspirations, it's best for their rookie to stay in the G League.