After a two-game stint, the Portland Trail Blazers have recalled rookie center Yang Hansen from his G League assignment with the Rip City Remix, the organization announced Monday.
While the Blazers traveled
to the final two stops of their five-game road trip over the weekend, Yang played two road games with the Remix instead. In his G League debut on Friday, the 7-foot-1 center registered eight points on 4-11 shooting, 13 rebounds, four assists, a block and a steal against the Valley Suns in a 107-104 win. Yang followed up that performance with 21 points on 8-16 shooting, nine rebounds, three assists and three blocks against the South Bay Lakers in a 113-111 loss.
The recall should make Yang available to play in the Blazers’ next game on Tuesday night against the Phoenix Suns at the Moda Center. However, it’s unclear if Yang will crack the rotation again upon his return. His assignment to the G League last week came after six consecutive DNP-CDs (Did Not Play, Coach’s Decision), and he hasn’t played in a Blazers game since backup center Robert Williams III returned to the lineup on Oct. 31.
That Phoenix game is the first of a back-to-back, with the Chicago Bulls coming to town on Wednesday. If the Blazers decide to rest Williams for that matchup (which they did on the second half of back-to-backs for Williams last season), that could open up some minutes for Yang against Chicago. Or maybe, that could just mean interim head coach Tiago Splitter will continue to rely more on backup big Duop Reath and small-ball lineups when starting center Donovan Clingan is off the floor.
The Remix’s next game isn’t until Sunday, Nov. 23 when they take on the San Diego Clippers in California. Portland’s G League affiliate won’t play a home game until they face the Clippers at the Chiles Center on Dec. 4. That’s the start of a five-game homestand that runs through Dec. 11.
