Is Young a good fit for the Lakers? The draft expert breaks down the offensive and defensive fit: His talent is worth the investment

On May 27, Beijing time, draft expert Ben Pfeifer wrote an article about Chinese player Yang Hansen and discussed his compatibility with the Lakers. Here's Ben's point of view –

Throughout the NBA offseason, few teams had a more pressing need for a center than the Lakers. The move to trade Anthony Davis for Luka Doncic before the trade deadline was widely hailed, but it also deprived the Lakers of a reliable center rotation in 2025.

While Doncic's trade is almost certain to pay off big in the future, Davis' departure leaves an equally huge hole in the frontcourt. After the Mark Williams trade fell through, the Lakers relied on Hayes as their starting center, and they also used players like Koloko, Jamieson and Ryan.

The Lakers lost 4-1 to the Timberwolves in the first-round series. Gobert, Randle and Reed have all suppressed the Lakers' interior on both ends of the floor, while head coach Redick has to use a lineup that doesn't have a traditional big man on a regular basis.

The Lakers will be looking for centers this offseason through free agent markets, trades, and drafts. Before the trade, though, they only had the No. 55 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. It's hard to find an impactful player at such a low end in the draft, but there's no shortage of players who can make a huge impact in the late second round.

Hansen Yang, a potential interior from China, could offer a solution for the Lakers through the draft。 He has been outstanding in the CBA this season, averaging 16.2 points, 10 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.7 blocks per game, ranking third on the team for minutes played.

While his performance overseas has caught the attention of some draft scouts, his real rise began with a combined NBA draft tryout. Yang Hansen is the size of the NBA: 7 feet 1 inch (about 2.16 meters) barefoot, 253 pounds (about 115 kilograms), and an arm span of 7 feet 6 inches (about 2.29 meters). While there is still room for improvement in his physical condition, his size is already comparable to that of most professional centers.

In general, the core of the draft is to find stars and select the most talented players. But as the draft progresses, teams will increasingly consider the fit of players and rosters. Teams will always think about how players fit into the core of the team, and the Lakers will certainly think about that around Doncic.

Big men who are good at pick-and-roll and aerial finishes tend to have good chemistry with Doncic。 Doncic has brought out the best in the likes of Lively Lyward, Gafford Ford, Dwight Powell and McGee. Hayes has been playing extremely efficiently with his aerial finishing ability when he has partnered Doncic this season, and to some extent belongs to this type.

Yang Hansen's main characteristic is not to block and pick and roll down the center, but to be a back-to-back scorer。 He's a skilled interior scorer who takes on significant scoring tasks, but that usage could decline in the NBA. If the Lakers target Young, they must believe he can be a pick-and-roll threat next to Doncic and James. As a true seven-foot-long man,Yeung's dominant standing touch height (9 feet 3 inches, about 2.82 meters) has a downward value in itself, and this advantage is further enhanced by his excellent footwork and feel。 But his limited vertical explosiveness and erratic hand control can be limited against NBA-caliber defense.

When the defensive approach uses a crouch defense against Doncic, Yang Hansen, who is simply a downward threat, may have trouble in the early stages. He's better at using his skills and reading to break down the defense in the short pick-and-roll. When a defender hits Doncic or James, Young has enough ball handling to score or pass in space.

However, the Lakers value more than just his compatibility with Doncic — as important as that is. He shot 60.4 percent from the field in the low post and excelled as a scorer and playmaker. This passing ability has helped him transition from a low-post role to an offensive hub, which has been demonstrated in the NBA Syndicate tryout.

Like most tall centers, scouts scrutinize his defensive fit.With a 7.1 per cent block rate this season, Yang is an excellent basket protector。 His size and reach help him pose a threat under the basket and show excellent timing and reflexes when interfering with shots.

His pace and ability to move will be key to adapting to the NBA。 While he's improved in this area, there's still a long way to go before he can defend himself against NBA players in space defense. Hansen can get a foothold in the pit defense, but can the team execute other defensive strategies when he's the primary protector?

We've seen Redick devise creative defensive tactics for the Lakers to maximize player advantage, and the increasingly popular two-tower lineup could be good for Young's future. Considering Redick has been able to creatively solve problems with a lack of talent in his squad for much of this season, there is reason to believe he has the ability to maximise his roster configuration.

However, in addition to fully exploring Young's compatibility with the Lakers, the Lakers first had to select him in the draft. Their only 2025 pick is the No. 55 pick, which is at the end of the second round. Young's stellar performance in the NBA's combined tryouts has put him above that on most draft predictions, meaning he could be outside the Lakers' draft range.

If the Lakers target Young, they may need to trade draft picks upward。 Upward trading always comes with risk, and the Lakers must have full confidence in Young, but the swap cost of a second-round pick is likely to be lower. Young's current upward momentum could see him be drafted by other teams sooner than expected.

International players drafted in the second round often struggle to gain a foothold in the NBA and tend to return to (or stay overseas outright). Yang may join this group, butHis talent is worth investing in at some point。 If a team like the Lakers bets on his size, scoring skills, passing ability, and defensive potential, Young could find a long-term home in the NBA.