"Chinese Jokic lesgo": NBA fans stunned as Trail Blazers select Lakers target Yang Hansen at No. 16 in massive leap
The Portland Trail Blazers shocked everyone by drafting the LA Lakers' big man target, Yang Hansen, at No. 16. Hansen was widely projected to go in the mid to late second-round selections, but Portland had other ideas by making the most surprising move of the draft on Wednesday.
Hansen, a 7-foot-2 center, is one of the best passing bigs in this draft and is an excellent play finisher in the post. He's also been touted as the "Chinese Nikola Jokic" because of his skill set and flair. Hansen became the highest drafted Chinese player since Yao Ming, who went No. 1 in 2002.
Here's how fans reacted after the Trail Blazers' surprising move:
Chinese Jokic let’s goooo
Yall hating now jus wait till he turn into Yao Ming
They drafted a 2nd rounder at 16
He was supposed to be a 2nd rounder. But lowkey I don’t hate it. But should’ve traded down
They’ve replaced Ayton twice lmao
Polar opposite reports emerge on Portland's Yang Hansen surprise
Yang Hansen's selection at No. 16 was not only surprising but also polarizing. One front-office executive voiced a strong opinion, claiming it was the "wildest" pick anyone had ever made. Here's what insider Brett Siegel wrote:
"On the Hansen Yang pick at 16 for Portland, this is what one NBA front-office member had to say: 'That is the wildest pick I've ever seen. Those jobs up there are on the line.'"
Meanwhile, a Nuggets source told insider Jake Fischer with a Nikola Jokic comparison.
"A Nuggets source just texted me: 'Chinese Jokic,' about the Blazers' surprise selection,'" he wrote.
Hansen is coming off a stellar season in the Chinese league. He averaged 16.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.6 blocks in 45 appearances. He shot 58.6%, including a respectable 33.3% from deep. It seems like the Trailblazers are preparing to trade veteran centers Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams III.
With Hansen's addition, they have rostered five bigs for now, including last year's lottery pick, Donovan Clingan and Australian center Duop Reath, whose contract isn't guaranteed.
The Trail Blazers didn't make any trades on the first day of the draft, so Ayton and Williams could be moved over the next few days or weeks once contenders in need of bigs explore their options during the draft.