Yang Hansen Set to Gain a Star Teammate? Report: Giannis Willing to Consider Playing for the Blazers, Possibly Rejoining Lillard

On May 29th Beijing time, the Trail Blazers are seen as a sleeper team in the pursuit of Giannis. It is widely expected that Giannis will be dealt this summer, marking the apparent end of his tenure in Milwaukee. The Blazers made their first playoff appearance since the 2020-21 season last year, and this youthful squad is on the rise. Lillard sat out the current season after tearing his Achilles, but he is set to return next season. Sources indicate that if the Blazers formally pursue a trade for Giannis, he would be open to joining them. In other words, Chinese player Yang Hansen could soon have a superstar teammate.

Giannis Will Seriously Consider the Blazers This Summer

According to NBA insider Haynes, if the Blazers formally inquire and pursue Giannis, he would consider playing for the team. "I'm convinced that if Portland puts together a truly sincere offer, Giannis will at least give it serious thought rather than flatly rejecting it with a 'No, thanks.' He would view the Blazers as a viable option."

Giannis and Lillard have already played together before—they were teammates on the Bucks last season. Reports suggest that Giannis was unhappy with the Bucks' decision to waive Lillard. Although the duo didn't win a championship, it's clear Giannis enjoyed partnering with him.

The supporting cast the Blazers have built around Lillard is also stronger, which is highly appealing to Giannis: Avdija earned his first All-Star selection this season, Henderson remains immensely talented, and this would provide Giannis and Lillard with more capable teammates.

However, Henderson could very well become a trade chip to acquire Giannis, as the Bucks are looking for young players with All-Star potential. The Blazers also have Jrue Holiday on their roster—Giannis has worked with him before, making him another guard who can complement Giannis effectively.

The Blazers Have Enough Assets to Trade for Giannis

If the Blazers decide to make a major offer for Giannis, they have sufficient resources to complete the deal. They could return draft picks to the Bucks, which would be highly attractive to Milwaukee; they also possess enough young players to keep the Bucks engaged in negotiations.

The biggest question is: Can Giannis truly be happy with the Blazers? He has only one year left on his contract and won't join any team he doesn't intend to re-sign with long-term. The Blazers must treat this as a core consideration in any potential trade.

Once Giannis integrates with the Blazers' current roster, they would become a highly competitive team in the Western Conference. Depending on the assets sent out in the trade, they have the potential to rank among the top four in the West.

Nevertheless, the Blazers must put together a better offer than multiple other teams to ultimately secure Giannis.