Yang Hansen faces another competitor! The Trail Blazers signed a 7-foot center for $2.5 million over one year, having previously extended Robert Williams.

On July 1, Beijing time, as reported by well-known journalist Shams, various sources informed ESPN that 7-foot tall Brandon Carlson has agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Portland Trail Blazers. The team has secured this interior player, who has been developing over the past two seasons within the Oklahoma City Thunder system. The contract details were finalized with his agency, Priority Sports, represented by Ross Arroyo and Mark Bartelstein. Yang Hansen has gained another competitor.

At 26 years old, Carlson went undrafted in 2024. He possesses both perimeter three-point shooting and interior rim protection, making him a typical stretch-five. After entering the league on a two-way contract with the Thunder, he spent two seasons refining his game. During the 2025-26 regular season, he appeared in 42 games for Oklahoma City, averaging 5.8 points and 3 rebounds with a 36% three-point percentage. In the G League, he averaged 17.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game, showcasing notable offensive and shot-blocking talent. This summer, he signed a one-year, $2.5 million minimum contract with the Trail Blazers, adding cheap interior depth to the roster.

Previously, the Trail Blazers finalized a major move by agreeing to a three-year, $44 million extension with Robert Williams. When healthy, Williams is one of the league's top mobile, rim-protecting role players. Last season, he averaged 6.7 points, 7 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 17 minutes per game, capable of switching between power forward and center, and serves as the primary backup to Clingan.

After signing both Williams and Carlson, the Trail Blazers have stocked their frontcourt with four centers: Clingan, Williams, Yang Hansen, and Carlson, further worsening Yang Hansen's rotation situation. Clingan firmly holds the starting center spot, while Williams has secured stable bench minutes with his three-year contract. Carlson, on a minimum deal with three-point shooting ability, can fill garbage-time minutes and small-ball center gaps, taking away late-rotation opportunities. Yang Hansen will need to make significant improvements to compete for playing time.