Could Yang Hanshen Outshine Coward in the Future? Reporters Debate China’s Rising Center — Too Soon to Judge the Trade’s Outcome

On October 26, Beijing time, Memphis Grizzlies’ No.11 pick Coward’s explosive performance reignited discussions in Portland about Yang Hanshen — the player traded away in exchange for Coward. After all, Coward was the key asset the Trail Blazers received from the Grizzlies in that very deal. Portland beat reporter Reese Kunz shared his take on the matter.

Over the past few months, the Portland Trail Blazers have arguably been one of the most surprising teams in the NBA. It all began with their bold move in the 2025 NBA Draft, selecting Yang Hanshen — a player widely projected to go in the second round — with the 16th overall pick. Earlier, Portland had completed a draft-night trade with Memphis, sending the 11th pick (Coward) to the Grizzlies in exchange for the 16th pick, one future first-rounder, and two second-round picks.

So far, Coward’s early-season performance appears to justify Memphis’s decision. In today’s game, he erupted for a game-high 27 points, adding six rebounds and four assists. Even more impressively, he shot 9-for-13 from the field and a perfect 6-for-6 from beyond the arc.

Of course, it’s far too soon for Portland to regret their choice — calling a winner in this trade right now would be premature. Still, Coward’s breakout form is bound to make the Blazers’ front office reexamine whether their draft-day gamble was truly the right one.

The career trajectories of Coward and Hanshen are vastly different, making a direct comparison difficult. Coward, now 22, brings the maturity and experience of four full years in college basketball. Hanshen, on the other hand, is just 20 — still adapting to life in America, let alone the pace and physicality of the NBA. Fun fact: he only recently passed his U.S. driving test.

During the offseason, the Blazers made it clear that they didn’t see Hanshen as a “long-term project” but as someone who could contribute right away. While he’s shown glimpses of potential — leveraging his size, passing vision, and feel for the game — everyone understands this is a long-term investment. Even with Robert Williams sidelined, Hanshen has averaged just 6.5 minutes per game, posting 2 points, 1 rebound, and 1 block on average.

This kind of risk-taking isn’t necessarily wrong — Portland needs to swing for the fences in hopes of finding its next cornerstone star. But let’s be honest: this is still a gamble.

At this stage, no one can definitively predict Hanshen’s future. Will he evolve into a “unicorn”-style big man with a rare blend of size and skill, capable of reshaping how modern basketball is played? Or will he struggle to adapt from the CBA to the lightning-fast tempo of the NBA?

Realistically, his career will likely fall somewhere between those extremes. What’s certain is that time will tell who he becomes. Meanwhile, Coward has already shown flashes of being a “can’t-miss asset” early in his career.

For a team desperately seeking reliable shooters, the Trail Blazers can’t help but wonder: did they make the right call? Will Hanshen prove to be a high-reward investment, or did they pass up a safer, surer talent in Coward? Only time will reveal the answer.

Still, not everyone in Portland is losing faith. The local media outlet Blazers Lead wrote, “I still believe in Hanshen more than Coward.”

So, what do you think? Is Portland’s gamble destined to pay off — or will Memphis have the last laugh?