It was an absolute shocker when the Portland Trail Blazers took Yang Hansen with the No. 16 pick in the 2025 Draft. Portland traded down from 11 to draft Hansen five picks later, who was widely projected to be a second-round pick.
Just one pick later, the Minnesota Timberwolves snagged French big man Joan Beringer. With these players drafted one pick apart and playing the same position, there will always be some natural comparisons between the two players. Neither player saw the floor much as a rookie, with Hansen playing 300 minutes and Beringer playing 314 minutes.
However, in their limited time, Beringer showcased his upside as a rim protector and lob threat, while Hansen didn't look like an NBA player (respectfully). The 7-foot-1 big man shot an abysmal 31 percent from the field and didn't hold up on defense.
As such, a strong season from Beringer and more of the same from Hansen could make the Timberwolves pick look even better, while the Blazers pick would start to look like a massive mistake.
Beringer can make the Wolves look like geniuses, and the Blazers look foolish
The Timberwolves traded both Julius Randle and Naz Reid, which opens up a ton of minutes for Beringer, who is primed to soak up all of the non-Rudy Gobert minutes. Given that he flashed his upside in limited minutes and now has a runway to a bigger role, Beringer feels poised for a breakout season.
I don't want to write off Hansen completely, but his situation didn't improve, and he didn't show much to warrant minutes last season. Simply put, Beringer is far more likely to have a breakout second season than Hansen, based on opportunity and what we saw last year.
Beringer is an athletic monster who can block shots, catch lobs, grab rebounds, and rotate onto the perimeter. Yes, he still needs to improve, including cutting back on the fouls and adding strength. Regardless, in his limited minutes, Beringer was generally a positive contributor or, at the very least, he showed flashes of his upside.
His blend of rim protection and mobility can help the Wolves' defense stay afloat when Gobert is off the floor. Offensively, Beringer is a highly impactful rim runner with another level to reach. It's worth noting that the Wolves' offense was 12 points per 100 possessions better with Beringer on the floor last season. Beringer's sturdy hands and athleticism give the Timberwolves a new element on offense.
While he still needs to prove himself, Beringer could be a nightly double-double threat and a high-end backup. It's long been clear that Beringer has a lot of upside, and if he reaches these heights, there's no telling what he can be in a few years.
I'm not trying to pick on Hansen, but he simply didn't showcase that he has an NBA-level skill as a rookie. He came into the NBA as a high-feel big man, but this skill set felt nonexistent in his rookie season.
The Blazers wanted a long-term backup center for Donovan Clingan, and unless he improves significantly, Hansen doesn't seem to be that. And drafting him one spot above Beringer could soon look like a serious blunder. Fortunately, though, the Timberwolves got their guy.
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