Blazers Make Surprising Move Selecting Hansen Yang No. 16 Overall

In what was one of the most surprising moves of the First Round, the Portland Trail Blazers selected Chinese big man Yang Hansen with the No. 16 Overall pick in this year's NBA Draft.

Surprise at No. 16 pick in the 2025 NBA draft to Portland: China's Yang Hansen.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 26, 2025

The Blazers initially had the No. 11 pick before executing a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies in which Portland moved down a few spots while also picking up future draft compensation.

The Portland Trailblazers have selected Hansen Yang with the No. 16 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Yang will be on Portland's roster this upcoming season. pic.twitter.com/FoeVZoEXCj
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 26, 2025

Yang is a 7-foot-1 center weighing in reportedly at 253 pounds. He averaged 16.6 PPG, 10.5 RPG, and 2.6 BPG this past year in the Chinese Basketball Association.

Selection No. 16: @trailblazers select Hansen Yang of China. While I am very surprised that he went this high, he has always reminded me of a young Marc Gasol. I still remember Marc as a teenager & remember how doughy he was. I still believe he may be two years away from being…
— Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) June 26, 2025

Turning 20 on June 26th, the young center was projected by virtually all draft outlets to be a second round pick. Even with Donovan Clingan taken last year in the lottery, Portland wanted to further solidify its center spot.

Those expecting Yang to be ready to play immediately might want to temper expectations. While the upside for Yang is clearly there, it'll take some time for him to acclimate to the speed of NBA basketball. There's also a high likelihood he will work at reshaping his body to physically improve his quickness and verticality.

Great passer for his size, incredible vision, and good touch around the rim and great shot blocker.

There was concern other teams in his range were going to take him if the Blazers didn't take him at Pick #16 and the Blazers loved him.
— Danny Marang (@DannyMarang) June 26, 2025

Despite also being a 7-footer, Yang's profile is a bit dissimilar from Clingan's. Yang is more of an offensive-centric player with real touch around the rim and the ability to facilitate from both the high and low posts.

The move for Yang also likely signals the end of the tenures in Portland for both Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams III. Both reportedly have been shopped for the better part of a year.

Ayton is on the books for one more year at approximately $35.5 million. As one of the perceived worst contracts in the league, it'll be interesting to see what the Blazers can do in getting him off the books. Williams III is on a more manageable deal ($13.2 million) — though injury concerns may not net the team much back in the way of current or future assets.

Having said that, for a team in desperate need of a big man (such as the Los Angeles Lakers), a deal might be brokered sooner than later as these teams build out their offseason agendas.

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