The Portland Trail Blazers’ selection of Yang Hansen with the No. 16 pick is one of those draft moments that just keeps looking better with hindsight. Especially when, as it turns out, they basically needed to take him that early.
According to the general manager of Hansen’s team in China, the Qingdao Eagles, the big man had a promise from the Brooklyn Nets at No.19 (h/t Nets Daily)—which means Portland undercut them by just three spots on the board:
Chinese media quotes Qingdao Eagles GM as saying Hansen Yang had a guarantee from Nets at #19.