Trail Blazers’ first-round pick might be most stunning selection

Per The Athletic’s Jason Quick, Yang’s translator mentioned he labored out with the Path Blazers in Could and clicked with their entrance workplace, however “on the finish of the day, it was past [my] wildest creativeness.”  

ESPN analyst Bob Myers, a former Golden State Warriors common supervisor, was additionally shocked. 

“I will admit, I would not have the scouting report,” Myers said after the Trail Blazers selected Yang. “I am simply going to place myself on the market.”

Many different consultants in all probability could not discover the scouting report for Yang, both. He wasn’t some of the extremely touted prospects within the class. The Ringer ranked him as its No. 40 prospect on its closing huge board. 

“There is a clear concept of what Yang’s aspiring to be. The abilities wanted to get there simply have not totally developed,” The Ringer’s J. Kyle Mann wrote in his scouting report for the 7-foot-1, 249-pound heart. “All in all, he is a long-term guess, and one which’ll require a while and endurance.” 

Yang — who turns 20 on Thursday — performed two seasons for the Qingdao Eagles within the Chinese language Basketball Affiliation. The affiliation has featured former NBA gamers nearing the tip of their careers, together with former New York Knicks guard Stephon Marbury and former Houston Rockets ahead Tracy McGrady. 

In 45 video games in the course of the 2024-25 season, the massive man averaged a career-high 16.6 factors per recreation, 10.5 rebounds per recreation and three assists per recreation. 

Whereas Yang might have some upside, the Blazers have already got facilities Deandre Ayton and Donovan Clingan. Including one other frontcourt piece makes little sense. 

The Path Blazers higher hope their gorgeous decide works out, or reaching on Yang could also be thought of one of many extra baffling choices of the draft.