{"id":168521,"date":"2025-12-01T14:36:03","date_gmt":"2025-12-01T19:36:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=168521"},"modified":"2025-12-01T14:36:03","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T19:36:03","slug":"yang-hansen-could-be-another-portland-trail-blazers-fumble","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/12\/01\/yang-hansen-could-be-another-portland-trail-blazers-fumble\/","title":{"rendered":"Yang Hansen Could Be Another Portland Trail Blazers Fumble"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yang Hansen<\/a> was a massive investment for the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2025 NBA Draft. Initially, Portland had the 11th pick, but traded down to select Yang with the 16th pick. So far, it could be another Blazers fumble, as Yang’s opportunities within Splitter’s system have been sporadic.<\/p>\n

Yang Hansen Could Be Another Portland Trail Blazers Fumble<\/h2>\n

The Portland Trail Blazers are no strangers to making some bad decisions in the NBA Draft. They missed out on Michael Jordan<\/a> in 1984, Kevin Durant<\/a> in 2007, and multiple players in 2017. With their recent first-round pick being Yang Hansen<\/a>, people are thinking this could be another Blazers fumble.<\/p>\n

Considering the 11th pick went to the Memphis Grizzlies, and they selected Cedric Coward<\/a>. The 22-year-old wing could have been the optimal shooter. Another factor was that he played Division III basketball at Willamette in Oregon from 2021 to 2022.<\/p>\n

Coward has become one of the leading candidates for Rookie of the Year, while Yang is struggling to get minutes. Now, people are looking back at the Yang pack and lamenting about missing out on Coward or Derik Queen<\/a>. Everyone loves Yang<\/a>, but he is a long way away from being a rotation player.<\/p>\n

Yang’s Opportunities are Way Too Sporadic<\/h3>\n

Entering the 2025-26 NBA season, most people knew that the Trail Blazers had a deep center rotation<\/a>. Even when Deandre Ayton<\/a> left, Portland still had three rotational centers and one rookie.<\/p>\n

Donovan Clingan<\/a> proved in the 2024-25 season that he is here to stay<\/a>. Robert Williams III<\/a> is an oft-injured center, but he is superb when healthy. Duop Reath<\/a> is the third-string center, who has been a constant for Portland in recent seasons.<\/p>\n

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Yang Hansen in tonight\u2019s game <\/p>\n

\u25ab\ufe0f21 PTS
\u25ab\ufe0f9 REB
\u25fd\ufe0f3 BLK pic.twitter.com\/iPm2epO4hq<\/a><\/p>\n

— Rip City Remix (@ripcityremix) November 17, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n