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Shams Charania: Portland traded Damian Lillard for Jrue Holiday, Toumani Camara, and assets in 2023 -- then Holiday to Boston for Robert Williams III, Malcolm Brogdon and assets. Now, the Blazers have both Lillard and Holiday, plus Williams, Camara, a 2029 first-rounder and two Bucks swaps.
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Kerry Eggers: Given the current roster, I asked Joe Cronin if @trailblazers are a playoff team next season. “Possibly. I really like where we are headed. I love the steps we took last year. I am excited about the steps we are going to take this year and beyond. I would love to get through this transaction window a little further. We still have a trade window and free agency coming up, but as is, with the stuff we have done already and the guys we have coming back, I am very excited about this group. I don’t necessarily have expectations of them reaching some benchmark other than I want them to get better every day, every week, every month.”
Kerry Eggers: ' @trailblazers GM Joe Cronin, after watching the recent NBA playoffs: “I have noticed the way the really successful teams think the game. Their basketball IQ, their skill sets, their ability to make each other better are a critical component to winning games. That is where Yang (Hansen) will help us. His basketball IQ is very high. He makes others better. That is what we are trying to do, to find guys who supplement and build up each other.”
Kerry Eggers: ' @trailblazers GM Joe Cronin on 7-2, 260-pound draft pick Yang Hansen: “Yang is mature physically already. He is strong, firm and sturdy and can withstand the strength of the NBA guys. It is extremely difficult to find a young player of that stature with this skill set. Big men who can do all the things he can do typically succeed in our league. It might take him a little time, but as he figures out the speed and pace of our game, I wouldn’t put a ceiling on him. He is that talented."
Kerry Eggers: Joe Cronin, when I asked Cronin why @trailblazers didn’t move down even more than No. 16 in the draft to take Yang Hansen, where he might reap even more in return. Was he concerned another team would take Hansen soon after No. 16? “The goal was to get as far back as possible. We didn’t want to overdraft if we didn’t have to, (but) we weren’t … comfortable beyond 16. It was too important for us to get him. We decided to do what some would call ‘a reach.’ We decided to take that swing and overdraft a player we really value.” #RipCity
Sean Highkin: Joe Cronin on @jakelfischer.bsky.social 's "Chinese Jokic" quote for Yang Hansen: "Nobody's Jokic. That's a tough one. But as far as his ability to pass the ball, there aren't many at his size that can do it like he does."
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Joe Cronin on drafting Hansen Yang: 'We didn't feel comfortable going much beyond 16'
Sean Highkin: Joe Cronin on going as far outside consensus as he did: "The goal was to go as far back as possible. We didn't feel comfortable going much beyond 16."
Sean Highkin: Joe Cronin opens his press conference by acknowledging Hansen Yang is an "unconventional" pick. "A player that we've been watching for quite a while and we're really excited about. A very unique talent in our opinion. Great size, young, high-end skillset."
Sean Highkin: Joe Cronin: "One thing I noticed in these playoffs is the way these successful teams think the game. Their basketball IQ and ability to make each other better. That's what Yang brings. His basketball IQ is very, very high."
Sean Highkin: Joe Cronin on Toumani Camara's All-Defense selection: "We're excited for Toumani and thrilled that he's getting the recognition he deserves. Toumani's aspirations are big — he's just getting started."
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