BROOKLYN N.Y. (KPTV) - The Portland Trail Blazers reportedly traded down in the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday, acquiring the rights to the 16th pick, Yang Hansen, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Portland officially selected Cedric Coward out of Washington State with the 11th overall pick. Coward played his freshman season at Willamette University in Salem.
Charania reports that they are trading the draft rights to Coward for the draft rights to the 16th pick, Chinese center Yang Hansen, a 2028 first-round pick and two second-round picks.
The Grizzlies are sending No. 16, a 2028 first-round pick via Orlando and two seconds to Portland for Cedric Coward, sources said. https://t.co/vLA63Gg3G8
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 26, 2025
The 7-foot-1 Hansen, who spent the last two seasons with the Qingdao Eagles of the Chinese Basketball Association, is the highest drafted player from China since Yi Jianlian was taken sixth overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2006.
Hansen turns 20 on June 26, the day after the first round of the draft.
He was a two-time CBA All-Star, and 16.6 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game over 45 games during the 2024-25 season.
The Blazers finished the 2024-25 season with a 36-46 record, a 15-game improvement over the previous season. They have not made the NBA Playoffs since 2021.
Portland reportedly acquired guard Jrue Holiday from the Boston Celtics on Monday, in exchange for Anfernee Simons.
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