US reporter: Trail Blazers' new head coach may successfully transform Yang Hansen, with Reid as a growth target being more realistic

On July 17, Beijing time, according to US reporter Kyler Fox,Trail Blazers' new head coach Micah Nori may reshape Yang Hansen, a big man with outstanding basketball IQ,and he previously successfully developed Naz Reid of the Minnesota Timberwolves, turning the undrafted player into a versatile NBA star.

Yang Hansen is still in his developmental phase, especially in the recent Summer League games, where his impressive talent flashes have once again been observed. For this young man from China, it is fortunate that the new head coach happens to have extensive experience in developing players of a similar type.

During his tenure as an assistant coach with the Timberwolves, Nori was fully involved in Reid's growth plan, polishing the initially overlooked undrafted player into the Sixth Man of the Year and a key member of the Timberwolves' consecutive Western Conference Finals appearances in 2024 and 2025.

When Reid entered the league from Louisiana State University, his most appealing trait was that his playing style was completely different from traditional centers.

The same goes for Yang Hansen. Both players received praise for their excellent court vision during the draft; both possess rare passing skills for their height; relying on their refined game feel and understanding of the game, both were labeled as high-IQ players upon entering the NBA.

Kyler Fox said it is important to note that this comparison is not entirely equal. He is not suggesting that Yang Hansen's current abilities have caught up to Reid, but the similarities between the two should not be underestimated.

Nori has personally witnessed the long-term polishing and careful guidance required for Reid's growth. Although Yang Hansen's development path may not exactly replicate the plan the Timberwolves tailored for Reid, the underlying developmental logic is completely consistent: encourage playmaking, trust the player's instincts on the court, and give the center space to handle the ball, allowing him to initiate offense in ways most players of his size cannot.

Before Jokic emerged, passing big men were mostly just a novelty on the court. Now, such players are highly sought after for their unique ability to impact the game in all facets, possessing immense value. However, for Yang Hansen to be compared to Jokic beyond the Summer League level, he still has a long way to go.

Therefore, for this No. 16 pick in the first round, setting Reid as a growth target is clearly more realistic. Reid did not reach his current level overnight either.

This LSU product spent years honing his skills, gradually earning the trust of the Timberwolves' coaching staff, and eventually transformed into one of the league's top bench weapons. The Trail Blazers appear willing to give Yang Hansen an equally sufficient growth cycle.

If the Trail Blazers can remain patient and Nori successfully replicates the experience he gained from developing Reid, the team may eventually gain another big man with a unique playing style that breaks traditional positional definitions. If Nori can ultimately build a frontcourt combination of "Reid-version Yang Hansen" paired with Clingan, it would greatly boost the Trail Blazers' pursuit of success.