Hansen Yang and Klingen debuting together? Rip City Project urges trying a twin-tower lineup: it holds potential dominance

On October 18th Beijing time, Rip City Project wrote about the topic of Hansen Yang and Klingen coexisting, with the details as follows—

The Trail Blazers will eventually confront a dilemma: deciding if Klingen and Hansen Yang can share playing time. For two talented young centers competing for limited minutes at the same position, this is an inevitable challenge.

When coach Billups must decide if the two can coexist, he should not hesitate but boldly explore the potential strength of this duo.

Playing styles and skill characteristics of the two

Klingen leans more toward a traditional center role, focusing on rim protection and rebounding, while also contributing in pick-and-roll situations. Standing 2.18 meters tall and weighing 127 kilograms, with a wingspan of 2.31 meters, he has the capacity to control games in these areas as long as he continues improving his timing and positioning skills.

On the other hand, Hansen is often compared to Nikola Jokic because, despite being 2.16 meters tall with a 2.20-meter wingspan, he possesses nearly guard-like skill sets.

Although both players have attractive individual talents, most believe Klingen and Hansen will ultimately compete for playing time. However, there is another possibility: pairing them together up front to create a lineup with absolute dominance for the Trail Blazers.

If the lineup of Avdija, Kamara, Klingen, Hansen Yang, and Jrue Holiday is deployed, the Trail Blazers could form one of the league’s top defensive units.

Defensive advantages: This lineup has almost no weaknesses on defense. Some might question whether Klingen or Hansen can match up against today’s elite power forwards, but conversely, opponents must expend effort defending these two big men.

Key obstacles to twin towers coexistence

Of course, the biggest challenge is whether the two can coordinate effectively. As a rookie, Klingen’s shooting percentage from beyond six meters is only 29.2%, raising doubts about whether he can adapt to a “two bigs” lineup without compromising spacing.

However, there is reason for optimism: for a player who attempted only nine three-pointers in 74 college games, a 29.2% success rate exceeds expectations. If Klingen continues refining his outside shot (as preseason progress has shown), coexistence with Hansen on offense becomes feasible.

Klingen needs to expand his skill set, whereas Hansen already seems equipped with the necessary abilities—his passing is excellent, and he moves comfortably on the perimeter. With further refinement, he can consistently stretch the floor for the team.

If both improve as described, the Trail Blazers will be able to leverage their height advantage to overpower opponents, creating a unique edge against nearly all teams.

Supporting roles of other players in the lineup

Regarding the other players in this potential five-man unit, Avdija, Kamara, and Holiday are all proven two-way players:

After Christmas in the 2024-25 season, Avdija averaged 19.9 points and 4.5 assists per game, shooting 49.6% overall, 36.9% from three, and 77.7% from the free-throw line;

Kamara was named to the All-Defensive team and shot 37.5% from beyond the arc;

Holiday is a two-time NBA champion who has proven himself as a top defender on multiple teams and is a reliable offensive option whether he has the ball or not.

With ample spacing, playmaking, and scoring ability on the perimeter, the Trail Blazers can fully utilize these two seven-footers’ unique traits. Hansen has already demonstrated clear star potential, serving not only as a playmaker but also as a scorer and floor spacer; meanwhile, Klingen’s averages of 5.9 offensive rebounds and 3.0 blocks per 36 minutes are impressive, and he has quietly shown passing potential as well.

During the preseason, coach Billups explicitly stated that a twin-tower approach was not yet under consideration. It is undeniable that Klingen and Hansen may not be able to coexist due to incompatible playing styles and shared challenges with foul trouble. This might require sacrifices in weight and strength to improve mobility. However, if the Trail Blazers dare to experiment, this potentially dominant lineup is definitely worth the effort.