Will the Raptors Jump on Yang Hanshen at No. 9? The 2024 Draft’s Hidden Middle-Row Gamble

Hustle in the Shadows: The Draft’s Quiet Revolution

Last year, nobody saw it coming—Grayson Allen wasn’t even on most mock drafts until he was already in Memphis. But here we are: Grizzlies took Zhaire Smith over Chris Duarte because of what they saw in a single workout tape. And now? The same script is repeating—with a twist.

This time, it’s Toronto at #9. They’ve been all-in on Marquise Walker (yes, that Marquise Walker), but guess what? He’s likely gone by No. 7 to the Pelicans, who need size like water after drought.

Why This Matters Now

So where does that leave us? Enter Yang Hanshen—the Chinese center with range you won’t believe from 16 feet out, per my Synergy breakdowns.

He was projected as second-round talent after pre-combine testing showed average wingspan and mid-tier vertical leap.

But then he got on film. Not just practice footage—real game tape against NCAA elite defense. That’s when things changed.

From Second-Round to First-Round Wildcard?

Let me be clear: I don’t trust rankings without context.

Yang didn’t “improve” overnight—he revealed himself under pressure. His defensive positioning? Almost textbook-level for his age group. His footwork against double teams? Better than most bigs drafted ahead of him this decade.

And yes—he’s not your prototypical rim protector like Chet Holmgren. But can he defend pick-and-rolls without fouling early? Yes. Can he space the floor while anchoring D? Absolutely—not every team needs a shot-blocking machine; some need architects of rhythm.

I’ve seen two players this year go from “not worth drafting” to “top-25 talent” after one strong showing:

• Ihor Sosnivskyi (last year)
• Yang Hanshen (this year)

Coincidence? Hardly.

The Real Risk Isn’t Choosing Him—It’s Not Choosing Him

You think I’m biased because I love under-the-radar profiles? No—I’m biased because I’ve lost track of how many times analysts dismissed guys who ended up starting for championship contenders based solely on draft boards drawn by consensus committees full of tired veterans who still think ‘height = impact.’

Toronto has a chance to do something radical: draft someone who doesn’t check all boxes—but checks the right ones. The Raptors have never had a player like Yang—not even close. The culture shift starts here—or never happens at all.

Final Call: Bet On Chaos?

Look… if you want safety, pick Marquise Walker or Jalen Wilson—at least they’re familiar names with good athleticism and decent shooting touch. But if you want vision—a team that dares to build differently—then you bet on Yang Hanshen at #9. The odds say no—but my model says yes… especially when you factor in how much value gets left on the table when teams play it too safe during late picks.