Team reporter: If you don’t give Yang Hansen a chance to play, what’s the point of drafting him? Grizzlies Coward has already played.

November 8th, today Trail Blazers reporter Reese Kunz published an article talking about Yang Hansen and Grizzlies rookie Coward. The following is the full content.

While rookie Yang Hansen deserves more playing time in the Portland Trail Blazers' crowded frontcourt, interim head coach Splitter doesn't seem to think so. Hexion showed tremendous potential throughout the offseason and was highly anticipated, but he hasn't been able to translate that potential into actual performance early in the regular season.

As of press time, Hexion averaged only 1.8 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.4 blocks per game, and his shooting percentage was only 22.2%. That's not entirely his fault, as the Blazers didn't create an environment conducive to success for him.

The Trail Blazers didn't give Hexion Young a chance to succeed

After the surprising draft, Portland emphasized that they didn't view Hexion as a long-term project. However, his limited playing opportunities contradict this statement. He averaged just 5.8 minutes per game and was ruled out by the coach for three consecutive games.

Splitter responded when recently asked about his plans for Hexion: "I don't know. I understand there are a lot of expectations. Now, he will continue to train and get better - adjust to the speed of the NBA and everything... We just have to be patient with him. At this time, I don't want to put him in the line of fire; we have to handle it carefully."

Before the start of the season, Hexion was considered to be Donovan Klingen's backup center, but he quickly fell out of Portland's rotation. The performance of Lowe and Reese was enough to prove that Split's decision was correct. He also often tried small-ball lineups without a center. This begs the question: What was the point of choosing Hexion in the first place?

Is Coward a better fit for the Trail Blazers' lineup?

The Trail Blazers' frontcourt is already very strong, and Klingen has been identified as the future center candidate. He performed well in his rookie season. They could have balanced the lineup better and added more shooting ability by selecting a player like Coward.

Portland conducted a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies on draft day, and the Grizzlies finally selected Coward with the 11th overall pick of the Trail Blazers. This proved to be a good deal for the Grizzlies. As of press time, he is averaging 14.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

Coward also has a wingspan of 2.18 meters, making him a versatile defender and valuable offensive and defensive player. His defense, shooting and shot-creation ability are a better fit for the Blazers than Young. With Thybulle out with a thumb injury, the Blazers have to rely on players like Chris Murray and Sissoko to fill out wing depth. Coward could immediately boost the Blazers' strength, help them return to playoff contention, and improve the team's long-term prospects due to his seamless fit.

Although it is not certain to say that Coward will be a better choice, the trend is indeed that. One rookie has stood out in a strong draft class, while the other has been admitted by his own coach to not be ready for the NBA.