Trail Blazers reporter Kunz mentioned Yang Hansen in a post. He believes that Xiao Yang may be a missing star in the future. The following is some of the content.

Trail Blazers GM Joe Cronin's latest commendable gambling was to pick Hansen Yang through an unconventional draft. The kickoff team traded the 11th pick in the first round to the Grizzlies before the draft, in exchange for the 16th pick in the first round, and also won the 2028 Orlando Magic's first round pick and the 2027 Atlanta Hawks and the 2028 Sacramento Kings second round pick. Yang Hansen may become the star that the Trail Blazers lack.

One of the problems currently limiting Portland's rebuild cap is that despite their multiple attempts, they haven't really found a player in the draft that can be finalized. Scutter Henderson and Shetton Sharp, although have some potential, have not yet grown into stable and influential stars and may not even appear in the starting lineup at the beginning of the season. Donovan Klingen, who was drafted at the 7th overall pick in last year's draft, has proven his rebounding ability and rim protection, but his offense is very limited, meaning he may never be able to be a full-scale player.

The Trail Blazers have not "missed" much in the first round draft in recent years. Apart from choosing Chris Murray with the 23rd pick in 2023, they have also failed to find a clear core to serve as the team's appearance. It is crucial to achieve a good playoff record in the Western Conference. This is exactly why we appreciate their bets on Yang Hansen.

Yang Hansen has proven in the summer league that he has a very high basketball IQ and elite field vision, especially in the center position. These are traits you can't teach players; either they are born to understand the game or they are difficult to understand. Other aspects of Yang Hansen's game will also be improved eventually. He has shown a willingness to open up space on the offensive end and has shot a commendable 33.3% three-point shooting in four summer league games. With his height, footsteps, passes and constantly improving shots, Young Hansen can be a offensive hub for Portland, similar to Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets. Based on the opponent and his shooting performance, the Trail Blazers can even have him partner with Klingen at certain times to form a double tower lineup.

Of course, Portland's gambling against Hansen Yang may also fail, but this risk is greatly reduced by the following two points: First, they obtained Hansen through trades in the draft, and in the process they obtained valuable assets (future draft picks); second, they already have the insurance option of Klingen at the center position. Mid-round first-round picks aren't always successful in the NBA, and if Portland's choice doesn't meet expectations this time, it won't have much impact on their reconstruction. If Yang Hansen's advantages can be reflected in the NBA, he will have the potential to become a star. With this alone, the Trail Blazers deserve a gamble on him, anyway, the risks involved are relatively small.