The Portland Trail Blazers selected Washington State wing Cedric Coward with the No. 11 pick in Wednesday night’s NBA draft, but traded his rights to Memphis for the No. 16 pick to select 7-foot-1 center Yang Hansen out of China.
Yang worked out for the Blazers during the predraft process.
The Blazers also received a 2028 first-round pick (through Orlando), a second-round pick in 2027 (via Atlanta) and a 2028 second-round pick (via Sacramento).
The second round will be held on Thursday. The Blazers entered the draft without a second-round pick. It’s unclear if the acquired second-round picks are for this year.
The selection of Yang is an interesting one. Most mock drafts had him going late in the first round, or maybe in the second round.
Bleacher Report had Hansen going 40th overall. Yahoo Sports projected Hansen to go 38th overall.
Plus, the Blazers selected 7-2 center Donovan Clingan with the No. 7 pick last year.
Yang, who turns 20 on Thursday, was named the Chinese Basketball Association’s defensive player of the year in 2024 and an All-Star in both 2024 and 2025.
This past season, Yang averaged 16.6 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. He shot 58.6% from the field and blocked 2.6 shots per outing.
At May’s NBA combine, Yang, speaking through an interpreter, said he sought to match the speed and pace of American players.
“Everything is surprising, to be honest,” he said. “Here, the style they play is completely different than China style.”
Yang will be introduced Friday at the Blazers’ practice facility.
Yang Hansen (R) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver (L) after being drafted sixteenth overall by the Memphis Grizzlies during the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 25, 2025 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)Getty Images
Below is a recap of the draft through the No. 16 pick:
Dallas: Cooper Flagg, forward. DukeSan Antonio: Dylan Harper, guard, Rutgers. Philadelphia: VJ Edgecombe, guard, Baylor.Charlotte: Kon Knueppel, forward, Duke. Utah: Ace Bailey, forward, Rutgers. Washington: Tre Johnson, guard, Texas. New Orleans: Jeremiah Fears, guard, OklahomaBrooklyn: Egor Demin, guard, BYU. Toronto: Collin Murray-Boyles, forward, South Carolina. Houston: Khaman Maluach, center, Duke. Portland: Cedric Coward, wing, Washington State.Chicago: Noa Essengue, forward, France.Atlanta: Derik Queen, center, Maryland.San Antonio: Carter Bryant, forward, Arizona.Oklahoma City: Thomas Sorber, forward, Georgetown.Memphis: Hansen Yang, center, China.
— Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook)