June is here and we're just 23 days away from the 2025 NBA Draft. The futures of the world's top basketball prospects will be decided when 30 NBA franchises will add new names to their rosters. It's one of the most exciting nights of the summer and will be a big one for the Boston Celtics.
Boston has two picks at this month's draft at 28 and 32. Adding the right young players to their roster will be key, as the Celtics try to navigate an inevitable summer of change.
Qingdao Eagles center Hansen Yang is projected to be available when Boston is on the clock for their second-round pick. Yang, who will actually turn 20 on night two of the draft, played 53 games for the Eagles last season in the Chinese Basketball Association. He averaged 16.2 points, 10 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.7 blocks per game while shooting 59.5% from the field and 28.6% from beyond the arc.
Does Hansen Yang make sense for the Celtics?
Depending on who is left on the board, yes.
Thomas Sorber, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Danny Wolf, Maxime Raynaud, and Joan Beringer all project in the Celtics' range, too. At this point, I think I'd favor those guys over Yang, who many experts have ranked lower than each of the above names.
Regardless, center feels like Boston's biggest need heading into this year's draft. There's little certainty as to what their big-man rotation will look like next season. Kristaps Porzingis has been in every trade rumor with the Cs presumably looking to avoid being a second-apron team for the third straight year, while both Al Horford and Luke Kornet are unrestricted free agents this summer.
Even if two of the three are back next season, it wouldn't be the worst idea to add more depth at the center spot.
Though he doesn't have the same buzz as the other prospects listed above, Yang can still ball, and his game is intriguing.
His playmaking ability stands out the most. The seven-foot-one big man has great vision and is a willing passer. He's consistently shown an ability to set up his teammates from the post, rewarding cutters off the ball, and has even served as an offensive hub for the Chinese National Team.
He makes careful decisions and reads defenses in a Nikola Jokic-esque way.
Many NBA fans got their first look at Yang's vision at last month's NBA Draft combine.
What makes Yang so dangerous as a passer is his crafty post game. When you watch his season highlights, there's an old-school feel that comes along with his fine-tuned footwork and soft touch on a healthy mix of hook shots, layups, and dunks.
If he were to be drafted by the Celtics, it's tough to imagine that he'd get a ton of post opportunities, but he'd still be able to make an offensive impact as the roll man in the pick-and-roll. His sharp decision-making, soft touch, and good timing on the roll all make him a threat cutting towards the hoop.
Defensively, Yang does exactly what you'd expect a seven-footer to do. At nearly three blocks per game, he does a great job of protecting the rim as both the on-ball and off-ball defender. He has a good feel for when to rotate over and help his teammates.
Once he leaves the paint, Yang isn't as comfortable. As a pick-and-roll defender, he's going to have to play drop coverage, as he isn't quick enough to keep up with smaller guards. Overall, he moves slowly and could have trouble adjusting to playing against the most athletic hoopers on the planet.
"The speed and athleticism of the NBA is just on a dramatically different level that will test him in ways he never has been before," wrote Yahoo Sports' draft expert Kevin O'Connor. "This matters purely for experience reasons, but also because he too often didn’t impose his will despite his physical advantages even at that level. The NBA will be an even greater challenge."
Yang's jumper is another weakness. He's inconsistent at best and has a lot of work to do to become an effective floor-spacer. His 28.6% clip from three and 67.7% clip from the free-throw line doesn't bode well for shooting development. Fortunately, Celtics fans have seen how effective Luke Kornet is within the team's offense, without being a perimeter threat.
The question with Yang is whether or not he'll be as comfortable in a low-usage role in the NBA. Some other draft prospects seem better fit for that game than he does, but the Chinese sensation could be a sleeper pick regardless.
For a more in-depth look at potential Celtics prospects, check out the "How 'Bout Them Celtics" draft preview, where Jack Simone and I run through plenty of names with No Ceilings' Tyler Rucker.
