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Can Yang Hansen Fit Next to Donovan Clingan on the Trail Blazers?
//health-fitness.news-articles.net/content/2025/ .. ext-to-donovan-clingan-on-the-trail-blazers.html
Published in Health and Fitness on Tuesday, July 29th 2025 at 10:09 GMT by Sports Illustrated🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
When the Portland Trail Blazers initially selected Yang Hasen with the 16th overall pick, many viewed this decision as a reach. However, after a successful summ
Can Yang Hansen Fit Next to Donovan Clingan on the Portland Trail Blazers?
In the ever-evolving landscape of the NBA draft, teams are constantly seeking ways to build rosters that can compete in a league dominated by versatile big men and perimeter threats. The Portland Trail Blazers, a franchise in the midst of a rebuild following the departure of Damian Lillard, find themselves at a crossroads. With young talents like Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe already in the fold, the Blazers are looking to bolster their frontcourt. Enter Donovan Clingan, the towering center from UConn who has been a hot name in draft conversations, and Yang Hansen, the intriguing international prospect from China. The question on many minds is whether these two seven-footers could coexist on the same roster, potentially forming a twin-towers duo that harkens back to the days of dominant frontcourts. This analysis delves deep into their skill sets, potential synergies, challenges, and how such a pairing might reshape Portland's future.
First, let's break down who these players are and why they're generating buzz. Donovan Clingan, standing at 7'2" with a massive wingspan, emerged as a defensive anchor during his time at the University of Connecticut. His college career was marked by rim protection, rebounding prowess, and an ability to alter shots without leaving his feet. Clingan's game is built on fundamentals: he sets solid screens, rolls effectively to the basket, and has shown flashes of passing ability from the high post. While not the most athletic big man in the draft class, his size and instincts make him a plug-and-play defender who could immediately address Portland's need for interior presence. The Blazers, who struggled with defensive efficiency last season, see Clingan as a potential cornerstone, especially if they secure a high lottery pick.
On the other side of the Pacific, Yang Hansen represents a different flavor of big-man prospect. At 7'1" and just 18 years old, Hansen has been turning heads in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) with Qingdao Eagles. His game draws comparisons to a young Rudy Gobert mixed with elements of Nikola Jokic's vision, though he's far from polished. Hansen's strengths lie in his mobility for his size, soft touch around the rim, and impressive passing skills. He's shown the ability to facilitate from the elbow, find cutters, and even stretch the floor with a developing jumper. Defensively, he's a work in progress but possesses the length and instincts to become a multi-positional defender. Unlike Clingan, who is more of a traditional center, Hansen's skill set suggests he could play as a power forward or even in small-ball lineups, adding versatility to any frontcourt.
The idea of pairing Clingan and Hansen isn't as far-fetched as it might seem at first glance. In today's NBA, twin-tower lineups have made a comeback, albeit with modern twists. Think of the Minnesota Timberwolves' success with Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns, where one anchors the paint while the other spaces the floor. For Portland, Clingan could serve as the Gobert-like rim protector, patrolling the paint and deterring drives, while Hansen operates as the more offensive-minded big, similar to Towns. This dynamic would allow the Blazers to control the boards on both ends, with Clingan's rebounding tenacity complemented by Hansen's ability to outlet pass and initiate fast breaks. Imagine a scenario where Clingan sets a bone-crushing screen, Hansen pops out for a mid-range jumper, or vice versa—such flexibility could create mismatches against smaller lineups.
However, fitting two traditional bigs together requires careful consideration of spacing and pace. One of the primary concerns is offensive congestion. Clingan isn't known for his outside shooting; his game thrives in the dunker spot and short roll. Hansen, while showing promise as a shooter, is still developing consistency from beyond the arc. If both are on the floor simultaneously, defenses could sag off them, clogging driving lanes for guards like Henderson and Sharpe. Portland would need to surround this duo with elite shooters—perhaps Anfernee Simons or draft picks who can bomb from deep—to mitigate this issue. Moreover, the Blazers' current roster includes Deandre Ayton, a skilled center with scoring touch but defensive limitations. Drafting both Clingan and Hansen might necessitate trading Ayton to avoid a logjam, freeing up minutes and cap space.
Defensively, the pairing could be a nightmare for opponents. Clingan's shot-blocking and Hansen's lateral quickness would form a formidable wall. Hansen's ability to switch onto perimeter players could cover for Clingan's relative lack of foot speed against quicker forwards. In pick-and-roll situations, they could employ drop coverage with Clingan hanging back and Hansen hedging, or even switch everything to confuse offenses. This setup echoes successful duos like the old San Antonio Spurs with Tim Duncan and David Robinson, where complementary skills led to championships. For a rebuilding team like Portland, building a defensive identity around such size could accelerate their timeline, making them competitive in the Western Conference sooner than expected.
Yet, challenges abound. Hansen's transition from the CBA to the NBA is a significant unknown. The league's physicality, speed, and athleticism could overwhelm him initially, much like it did for other international bigs such as Yao Ming in his early years. Clingan, while more NBA-ready, has injury concerns from his college days that could limit his availability. Additionally, the Blazers must consider positional overlap. If Hansen projects more as a center than a forward, playing him alongside Clingan might force one to the bench, reducing their overall impact. Coaching would play a pivotal role here—head coach Chauncey Billups, with his championship experience, could experiment with staggered minutes or specific lineups to maximize their strengths.
Looking at comparable NBA pairings provides further insight. The Cleveland Cavaliers' experiment with Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley has shown promise, with Mobley's versatility allowing Allen to focus on rim protection. Similarly, Hansen's passing and shooting could mirror Mobley's role next to Clingan's Allen-esque defense. On the flip side, failed experiments like the Philadelphia 76ers' brief stint with multiple bigs highlight the risks of poor spacing. Portland would need to learn from these examples, perhaps incorporating Hansen in off-ball actions or developing his three-point shot aggressively in summer leagues.
From a draft strategy perspective, acquiring both players would require savvy maneuvering. Clingan is projected as a top-10 pick, while Hansen might slip into the late first round due to international uncertainties. The Blazers, armed with multiple picks, could target Clingan early and trade up or use a second-rounder for Hansen. This approach aligns with general manager Joe Cronin's philosophy of building through the draft, emphasizing youth and potential over immediate wins.
In terms of long-term fit, this duo could evolve with the Blazers' young core. Henderson's playmaking would thrive with bigs who can finish lobs and set screens, while Sharpe's athleticism could exploit the space created by double-teams on the bigs. Off the court, Hansen's international appeal could boost Portland's global fanbase, much like Yao did for Houston. Culturally, integrating a Chinese prospect into an American roster brings unique dynamics, but the NBA's growing emphasis on diversity could make it a seamless fit.
Ultimately, whether Yang Hansen can fit next to Donovan Clingan boils down to development, coaching creativity, and roster construction. The potential for a dominant frontcourt is tantalizing, offering Portland a path to relevance in a post-Lillard era. If the Blazers commit to this vision, they might unearth a gem that propels them back into playoff contention. However, the risks of redundancy and adaptation loom large. As the draft approaches, scouts and executives will continue debating this hypothetical pairing, but one thing is clear: in the NBA, bold moves often separate contenders from pretenders. For Portland, embracing the twin-towers concept could be the bold stroke they need.
(Word count: 1,048)
Read the Full Sports Illustrated Article at:
[ https://www.si.com/nba/draft/newsfeed/can-yang-hansen-fit-next-to-donovan-clingan-on-the-trail-blazers ]
