Portland Trail Blazers first round draft pick Yang Hansen smiles and answers questions during his introductory press conference in the Trail Blazers Practice Facility in Portland, Ore., June 27, 2025. Yang being the #16 pick in the draft came as a surprise to many NBA fans, despite it being a few years in the making according to the team’s coaches.
Morgan Barnaby / OPB
The NBA draft started last week, and free agency just began. For the Blazers and their fans, some new faces will hit the court, and others will say goodbye. Yang Hansen, a 7-foot-1 center from China, is the Blazers’ newest rookie and was No. 16 in the overall draft.
The Blazers also recently parted ways with center Deandre Ayton after a slew of “bad ways,” including tardiness, tantrums and skipping rehabilitation appointments, as first reported in The Athletic.
Mike Richman is the host of the “Locked on Blazers” podcast. He joins us to share more on what to expect from Rip City’s beloved team after this player shake-up.
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