Tuomai praises Yang Hansen: He should have been picked earlier and has already brought the Trail Blazers a much-needed offensive boost

On October 11th Beijing time, Portland media Rip City Project released two consecutive pieces evaluating Yang Hansen’s showing in the second preseason match. The key highlights are —

The Trail Blazers secured a thrilling 124-123 victory over the Kings at home in their preseason opener, tying their preseason record at 1-1. Nevertheless,what mattered more was Yang Hansen’s performance.

This Trail Blazers rookie looked worlds apart from his disappointing debut. Although he played only 17 minutes against the Kings, Hansen efficiently scored 16 points, grabbed 4 rebounds, dished 1 assist, and blocked 3 shots, shooting 5 for 8 from the field and 2 for 3 from beyond the arc.

Portland’s risky investment in Yang Hansen is starting to pay off.Some flaws that Hansen showed in his first preseason game remained, including his overall speed, turnovers, and foul tendencies. In his debut against the Golden State Warriors, Hansen fouled out and posted just 4 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 4 turnovers in 21 minutes. In the win over the Kings, he committed 3 turnovers and 5 fouls.

Turnovers have been a persistent issue for Hansen throughout the summer league, but it was premature to view this as a red flag before, since it was unclear how many were due to teammates failing to catch his somewhat risky passes. After playing two preseason games alongside more talented players, it’s now evident this is a problem he must address.

Some issues, like his speed, will take a long time to improve; Trail Blazers fans need to be patient with his development as an international rookie adapting to a new league and country, along with the inevitable growing pains. That said, this preseason game precisely highlighted why Hansen is a prospect worth investing in.

Fans finally got to see everything the Trail Blazers’ front office admired when scouting him two years ago. In this single game, Hansen showcased multiple skills that few NBA centers possess. He appeared much more confident, leading to a sudden scoring outburst in the third quarter, including consecutive three-pointers.

All of Hansen’s potential strengths were fully displayed in this game.He effectively stretched the floor, creating opportunities for Shaedon Sharpe’s backdoor cuts, initiating and finishing a fast break, and even making a slick move against former Blazers player Drew Eubanks.

Dribbling behind the back! Spin move! Strong finish! This looked more like the player we saw in the summer league.

Billups expects Hansen to make an immediate impact for Portland this season. He has already earned a key rotation spot amid the crowded Blazers backcourt. What’s frightening for other teams is that this is just the beginning. Hansen’s game already flashes clear star potential.

Many previously criticized Portland for taking him with the 16th overall pick as a gamble. However, it’s now obvious he should have been selected much earlier.

His all-around game displays multiple strengths, making him an attractive prospect in the eyes of the Blazers’ management. Arguably, his most promising skill is his shooting ability.

Hansen hit consecutive three-pointers in the third quarter; he shot 5 of 8 overall and 2 of 3 from deep in the game, so the sample size is small from any angle. Nevertheless, Hansen has already become a three-point threat at this stage of his career, which will have a wonderful effect on both his own game and Portland’s offense as a whole.

Hansen proved in the second preseason game that comparing him to a "little Jokic" is justified. Ultimately, Portland will be able to utilize Hansen as an offensive centerpiece, much like Denver uses Jokic’s unique skills. Hansen’s shooting ability, and equally important, his willingness to shoot, will be crucial so that defenders cannot take him lightly, enabling him to maximize his strengths.

This is also vital for Hansen to unlock his star potential. Over the past two seasons, the Trail Blazers have ranked near the bottom in three-point shooting and recently lost Anfernee Simons this summer. They will need help in this area, which was already evident in the first two preseason games: shooting 16 of 48 (33.3%) from three in the loss to Golden State, and 10 of 37 (27.0%) in the win over Sacramento.

The Trail Blazers are not a team known for shooting prowess, but one thing they do well offensively is attacking the paint. Avdija stands out with his rare speed and athleticism, while Shaedon Sharpe and Scottie Henderson are figuring out how best to use their athleticism to attack inside. Having a center like Hansen who can pull opposing rim protectors out will help Portland’s other young core players reach their potential. So,through his passing and floor-spacing ability, Hansen has already provided the Trail Blazers with a much-needed offensive upgrade.