Can Hanson's future surpass Coward? Team reporters hotly debate China's interior players: it's too early to conclude who won or lost the trade.

On October 26 Beijing time, the breakout performance of the Grizzlies' 11th pick Coward sparked discussions among some Portland media about Yang Hanson. After all, Coward was the key asset Portland received in exchange for Hanson. Blazers reporter Reese Kunz commented —

No matter how it ends, Portland has been among the league’s most unexpected teams in recent months. This all started when they used the 16th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft to select Hanson, who was originally projected as a second-round prospect. Previously, Portland and Memphis swapped picks: Memphis received the 11th pick Coward and sent Portland the 16th pick, a first-rounder, and two second-round picks.

Early in the season, Coward’s performance has validated Memphis’s decision. In today’s game, he led all scorers with 27 points, adding 6 rebounds and 4 assists; shooting-wise, he made 9 of 13 attempts, including a perfect 6-for-6 from beyond the arc.

Of course,this does not mean Portland should regret their initial choice — it is still too early to declare a winner or loser in this trade.However, it undoubtedly prompts Portland’s management to reconsider whether their original decision was sound.

Coward and Hanson have completely different career paths, making direct comparisons difficult.Coward is 22 years old with four years of college basketball experience. Hanson, only 20, is still adjusting to life in the U.S., let alone everything related to the NBA — he recently just passed his driving test.

During this offseason, Portland emphasized that they do not view Hanson as a long-term developmental “project” player and expect him to contribute immediately. Although Hanson has shown the ability to compete at the NBA level with his height advantage, passing skills, and overall game understanding, everyone knows he is a long-term investment. Even with Robert Williams sidelined, Hanson averages only 6.5 minutes per game, putting up 2 points, 1 rebound, and 1 block per outing.

We do not dismiss such a gamble — after all, Portland needed to take risks in the draft to find the core star the team lacks. But it must be clear that this is ultimately a “bet.”

In fact, no one can precisely predict Hanson’s future. Will he become the next “unicorn” player who revolutionizes basketball with his rare skill set? Or will he struggle to adapt to the pace of the modern NBA after transitioning from the CBA?

Most likely, Hanson’s career will fall somewhere between these two extremes. But what kind of player he will ultimately develop into remains to be seen. Meanwhile, Coward has already shown the potential to be a “sure asset” in the first few games of his career.

For a Blazers team urgently needing to improve shooting, it’s natural for them to question: was the original choice truly right? Whether Portland’s “gamble” on Hanson will pay off or if they should have chosen the safer Coward can only be answered by time.

Seeing Coward’s impressive performance, Blazers media outlet Blazers Lead remains confident in Hanson and wrote:“I trust Hanson more than Coward.”What do you think? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments.