Latest news with #Hansen
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA Experts Are Shocked By Blazers' Pick At 16: Who Is Yang Hansen?
NBA Experts Are Shocked By Blazers' Pick At 16: Who Is Yang Hansen? originally appeared on Fadeaway World. The first round of the NBA draft took place tonight, with several trades and a number of high-profile prospects finding their new basketball home. One of the biggest stories of the night was the selection at No. 16, which went to the Portland Trail Blazers after a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies for the draft rights to No. 11 overall pick Cedric Coward. Instead of going with the expected selections, the Trail Blazers shocked everyone by picking Yang Hasen. The 20-year-old prospect from Zibo was projected to be a mid-second-round pick, but he was drafted near the lottery tonight in a move that executives are failing to understand. "That is the wildest pick I've ever seen," said one NBA executive on the deal. "Those jobs up there are on the line." We've seen this type of heat before with risky and unexpected draft decisions. There was a similar reaction to Anthony Bennett when the Cavaliers selected him first overall in the 2013 draft. In this case, however, the Blazers did not have the No. 1 pick, and the jury is still out on Hansen's potential as an NBA big man. The Chinese prospect is largely unknown in NBA circles, but at 7'2", he has favorable length and is drawing comparisons to Nikola Jokic. "A Nuggets source just texted me: 'Chinese Jokic,' about the Blazers' surprise selection," wrote Jake Fischer. At 19 years old, it's impossible to say how high Yang's potential goes, but he had a promising international career with averages of 15.8 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game on 56.8% shooting in two seasons for the Qingdao Eagles. Yang, who has a whopping 7'2" wingspan, is a talented and crafty scorer with solid court vision and great fundamentals. He's an elite passer and playmaker for his position, with a talent for grabbing rebounds and cleaning the glass. The only thing holding Hansen back in the draft was mobility. He's a slower, old-school big man who is likely to get exploited on defense. Nonetheless, the Trail Blazers believe he has the potential to transform their team into a regular competitor in the West. After giving up Anfernee Simons and two second-round picks this summer, Portland was able to get back Jrue Holiday, and he should make a fine addition in the backcourt as a tutor and mentor to the young core. At the very least, his presence will bolster their defense in the backcourt and provide some resistance against the best guards in the league. Alongside Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson, and Jeremi Grant, Hansen will have a chance to thrive on a team rich with young talent. Of course, with a frontcourt that includes Donovan Clingan, Robert Williams III, and Deandre Ayton, he'll also have to earn his way and prove that he deserves minutes over his other peers at the same position. In a wild and very active night of the draft, nobody saw the Blazers making as much noise as they did. But when the experts saw who they drafted with at 16, it was enough to send shockwaves across the entire association. They clearly have a lot of faith in this kid to succeed, and it'll be interesting to see how he fits into their future given the status of his story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
The Citizen
2 days ago
- General
- The Citizen
Mandela day wraps: Food and community upliftments
Communities across South Africa marked Mandela Day 2025 with acts of generosity, with food drives and youth-focused activities. Communities across South Africa turned out in force for Mandela Day 2025, using their 67 minutes and more to fight hunger, uplift youth and spark social change. In honour of Mandela Day, staff from across the Caxton Group came together to pack dozens of grocery bags for underprivileged children in Diepsloot, as part of an initiative led by Spark Media in partnership with the community-focused organisation, Simple Sacks. Caxton Mandela Day The initiative formed part of the company's 67 minute tribute to Nelson Mandela's legacy, with employees from publications including The Citizen, Farmers Weekly, Phone Works, BMI and Hard Digital volunteering their time to assemble essential goods into simple drawstring sacks that double as schoolbags. According to the head of marketing at Spark Media, a division of CTP Caxton, Jacqui Hansen, half of the funding for the drive was donated by Spark Media, with the other half coming from Winstel Technologies. Picture: Supplied 'We don't do it for the photos. We might not even know which children get the bags. The school knows who needs help the most and they handle the distribution with dignity,' said Hansen. Hansen added that Spark Media also covered logistics costs. 'Our own distribution trucks and supervisors will be delivering the parcels to the school next week.' Picture: Supplied ALSO READ: Mandela Day: Secret scarves to be distributed in various parts of the country Government's Mandela Day efforts In Nelson Mandela Bay, Minister in the Presidency Maropene Ramokgopa joined mayor Babalwa Lobishe on July 18 to lead Mandela Day activities as part of the district development model champion role in community upliftment efforts. Concurrently, in Cape Town's Bellville, Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean Macpherson spent 67 minutes assisting at MES Mould Bellville Safe Space, a homeless shelter. ALSO READ: Smile Foundation's 25 years of changing lives Food, dignity, and giving in action In Cape Town and Kyalami, Ladles of Love hosted full-day youth volunteer sessions, where participants packed sandwiches, made toys for creches and assembled edible garden kits. 'Making every day a Mandela Day for small children in need is how we can honour Nelson Mandela's legacy in 2025,' said founder Danny Diliberto. At Johannesburg's Nasrec Expo Centre, FoodForward SA hosted food-packing sessions that drew hundreds of volunteers. Meanwhile, SA Harvest's Buckets of Nutrition drive ran at Melrose Arch and Pavilion Mall, with citizens donating essentials to matric pupils in need. At Menlyn Maine's Central Square in Pretoria, the Gallery of Giving, an exhibit led by 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day, showcased Mandela-themed art and community-driven textile works. The Citizen is a division group of Caxton and CTP. NOW READ: 5 projects that are happening this Mandela Day
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Hansen, put your suit on' - Yang Hansen recalls how his call as NBA Draft pick caught him off guard
Yang Hansen recalls how his call as NBA Draft pick caught him off guard (Image Credit: Getty Images) Yang Hansen, the Portland Trail Blazers' 16th overall draft pick, revisited the moment when he was called on stage on the NBA 2025 draft night. Unexpected that he would be making the list of draft picks so early, he was entirely unprepared for the moment. He was so unprepared that the people around had to remind him, 'Hansen, Hansen, put your suit on.' Hansen shared his funny state at that moment, and he took a couple of seconds to process the announcement and make himself presentable. Yang Hansen is being called the precious find of the Portland Trail Blazers because of his staggering performance in the Summer League. He has even won the nickname 'Chinese Jokic' because of his ball passing abilities comparable to the MVP. Yang Hansen said he was entirely unprepared when his name was called on NBA Draft night Blazers rookie Yang Hansen describes draft night experience and career goals | NBA Today The night of the NBA draft 2025 was full of emotional moments. However, things were quite different at Yang Hansen's stand when he was called in the first round unexpectedly. Revisiting the moment, Hansen shared with ESPN's Malika Andrews: 'For sure it was a big shock for me. When Adam Silver called my name, it surprised me. I was just sitting there finishing my fried chicken. I didn't even put my suit on. Suddenly they told me, 'Hansen, Hansen, put your suit on.'" by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo Yes, while the other draft picks might be busy waiting for their name with fingers crossed, Hansen was busy doing, guess what? Eating fried chicken. None of the experts had anticipated the early selection of Hansen, including the player himself. However, the selection has proved to be a smart move for the Portland Trail Blazers. The two-time All-Star game selectee in China has shown immense potential over three games. Yang Hansen has lived up to expectations of Portland Trail Blazers' GM Jim Cronin With impressive numbers of 11.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.0 blocks per game in the last three games, Yang Hansen has proved that the Portland Trail Blazers have made the right choice. Even before the games, the Blazers' GM, Jim Cronin, was confident about Hansen's potential. Jim Cronin, at media availability after the NBA 2025 draft, showed full faith in his decision. He called Hansen 'very very unique talent', highlighting his 7'2' height fit for the game coupled with his ball passing IQ, high-end skill-set and young age of 20 years being his other positives. Watch Live: Blazers GM Joe Cronin discusses Yang Hansen pick, trade after NBA Draft When the press asked GM, 'When did you fall in love with Yang Hansen?', he sincerely replied that they have been scouting the young international talent for about two years. He explained: 'We've had, you know, we had a scout identify him during one of his under-18 events and then we sent Mike and Sergy, our two assistant GMs, over to China that fall to go scout him live. When they came back from that trip, they left um very very impressed and we were actually hoping he'd be in last year's draft. (But) he didn't declare last year, so we continued to scout him for the last year, um, this last past season.' He continued, 'As we studied him more and more throughout this spring, you know, we saw him at the combine, of course, met with him at the combine, and then we're able to bring him in here, and had a good workout here, and were able to spend more time with him here. So, you know, between our scouts identifying him early on and then some of our big key decision makers seeing him very early on, I felt like we had a big advantage in uh our scouting process and building our book on him as a player. ' Yang Hansen's game style reminds everyone of Nikola Jokic Yang Hansen is now lovingly being called 'Chinese Jokic.' The comparison is being done owing to his style of game, which is quite similar to the Serbian MVP. From reel-passes to rim selection and scoring threes, Hansen is making the mark in every aspect. The hype around Hansen bearing a resemblance to Jokic reached another level when a picture of Hansen walking through the tunnel was posted by the Portland Trail Blazers. In the picture, Hansen, entering the tube, has Jokic's picture on his side, making an interesting angle. The Blazers captioned it as, 'Locked.' Yang Hansen is young, athletic, ambitious achiever and full of talent, undoubtedly. His numbers in the last three games are testament to his immense potential. When he will meet the Serbian star, Nikola Jokic, on the court, it is sure to serve some magical moments to the fans. Meanwhile, the fried chicken story about the NBA draft night shows the innocent and boyish side of the Trail Blazers' 16th overall draft. Hope his natural innocence remains intact amidst all the hoopla the NBA career brings along. Also Read: Who is Yang Hansen? Here's what you need to know about Portland Trail Blazers' shocking first-round pick Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Copper prices have surged to record highs — and they could jump higher. Here's why
Copper is at the core of the American economy. It's in the wires of our pervasive electronics, in the walls of homes and in the engines of cars. Experts say President Donald Trump's plan for tariffs on the red metal could stymy the goal of boosting American manufacturing while potentially igniting inflation. Trump's July 8 announcement of a 50% tariff on copper imports beginning August 1 sent prices surging 13% in one day, up to a record high of $5.69 per pound. It was the biggest single-day increase in copper prices on record going back to 1968, according to FactSet. And those prices could just be a sign of things to come. A 50% tariff would be a 'massive tax on consumers of copper,' Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank, said in a note. While Trump says his copper tariff is needed to spur domestic production due to national security concerns, there is no quick fix. The US imports over 50% of the copper it needs, primarily from South America, Hansen said, 'with no clear path to improving that for years to come.' That's because it takes almost 32 years, on average, from the discovery of mineable copper in the US to production, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. And the end result of a big and fast copper tariff could simply be higher prices for many items, economists say. 'A tariff-induced price premium risks making copper—and by extension, US manufacturing and infrastructure—materially more expensive,' Hansen said. Copper is highly conductive, making it a critical input for electrical and electronic products. Copper can be found in the chips in mobile phones, plumbing in houses and in the engines of cars. 'This is a vital metal for everyday use,' Rob Haworth, senior investment strategy director at US Bank's asset management group, told CNN. 'You probably don't go a day where you haven't used something that has copper in it.' As Trump's self-imposed August 1 tariff deadline approaches, businesses and investors don't know what will happen in the wake of a massive tariff on a key component of the economy — let alone if the president will follow through with it at all, considering his history of backing off tariff threats. Widespread impact Copper is one of the most widely used metals in the world. The typical American-made car has over 50 pounds of copper, according to the Copper Development Association, a trade group. And the price of copper has been rising in recent years. The growing market for electric vehicles and the expansion of data centers thanks to the artificial intelligence boom have helped drive global demand for copper. Copper prices this year have smashed through previous records amid Trump's threat of tariffs. Copper futures in New York have soared almost 39% this year, outpacing the S&P 500's 6% gain, bitcoin's 24% gain and gold's 26% gain. Trump's tariffs on metals, including steel and aluminum, are intended to bolster US supply chains. His administration also cited national security concerns for levying a tariff on copper. But an import tax on copper would raise production costs for manufacturers in industries including construction, electronic goods and automobiles, according to Grace Zwemmer, an associate economist at Oxford Economics. 'All these tariffs raise costs and therefore injure downstream manufacturing,' Maurice Obstfeld, a professor of economics at UC Berkeley and member of former president Barack Obama's council of economic advisers, told CNN. 'For the US, this seems like a fairly pointless act of self-harm,' Obstfeld added. Businesses would face higher costs because there aren't many viable substitutes for copper, according to Brandon Parsons, a practitioner of economics at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School. While aluminum can be a substitute, it is more flammable and does not have the same conductivity, making it less viable for using in items like semiconductor chips. 'There isn't really a good way for businesses or consumers to avoid these higher costs,' he said. 'It's going to be felt widespread through the economy.' Where does the US get its copper? Chile, Canada and Peru provided over 90% of US copper imports in 2024, according to the US Geological Survey. The United States in 2024 mined an estimated 1.1 million tons of copper, according to the US Geological Survey, meeting just under half of its consumption. Arizona was home to more than 70% of domestic copper production in 2024. Shifting economic incentives in the modern era and the opening of free trade have both contributed to a decline in US copper production, according to Pepperdine's Parsons. The United States in recent decades has produced less copper as the global economy liberalized, enabling the country to import relatively cheap copper from countries like Chile and allowing the US economy to expand to other industries. Industrial buyers and Wall Street traders in recent months have shipped enormous amounts of copper to the United States to get ahead of potential tariffs. Morgan Stanley estimates 400,000 tons, or roughly six months' worth of 'extra' copper was front-loaded and delivered to the US in the early months of 2025. The copper stockpiles could 'temporarily buffer' the market when tariffs go into effect, according to Ewa Manthey, a commodity strategist at Dutch bank ING. However, the buildup of copper won't last forever, and it'll be difficult for the US to produce enough copper domestically. At some point, the US will likely need to import more copper under the 50% tariff, which could risk a resurgence in inflation, Manthey said. 'Higher copper prices also risk higher inflation, raising costs for US manufacturers without a domestic alternative available,' Manthey said. How would tariffs impact you? It remains to be seen whether companies will absorb the higher costs or pass the costs onto consumers in the form of higher prices, although economic theory suggests businesses would pass on higher costs to consumers when possible. Wall Street and corporate America have been expecting tariffs on copper — just not 50%. 'Investors were caught off guard, as the market had been expecting a much lower tariff rate,' Adam Turnquist, chief technical strategist at LPL Financial, said in an email. Smaller tariff rates such as 10% can be used strategically to encourage domestic manufacturing, economists say. But a rate as high as 50% could send a shock to markets, even leading to a drop in demand because prices are just too high. That could lead to slower economic growth across industries, such as a lull in home building. Plans to revive manufacturing and address national security concerns Trump has espoused using tariffs as a means to boost US manufacturing. But tariffs are not a panacea that will revive the manufacturing industry, Pepperdine's Parsons said. 'The rationale for this is to encourage production and investment in copper in the United States,' Parsons said. 'The issue is it's not like producing water, where you just open up the faucet. It could take years and years to open up a new copper mine, or even to expand production. So, while this does provide some incentive, it's something that's more long-run. You're going to feel the short-run pain.' Incentives like direct government subsidies or credits could promote domestic production of copper and fortify US supply chains, according to Parsons. While tariffs can help domestic companies sell more in the market, the higher prices can create unwanted ripple effects throughout the supply chain. Trump in February signed an executive order opening a Section 232 investigation into copper imports. That section of the 1962 Trade Expansion Act gives the president the authority to impose import duties to protect industries deemed vital to US national security. 'The United States faces significant vulnerabilities in the copper supply chain, with increasing reliance on foreign sources for mined, smelted and refined copper,' the executive order said. A Section 232 investigation comes with a 270-day deadline for an investigation, which means the Trump administration had until November to complete its review of copper, according to ING's Manthey. 'There are many foreign suppliers of copper, including close allies like Canada, so a national security rationale seems contrived,' Berkeley's Obstfeld said. Trump said in a social media post on July 9 confirming his intent to impose tariffs on copper that the metal is the second most-used metal in the Defense Department. But copper was not one of the 50 critical minerals designated by the US Geological Survey in 2022. The US Geological Survey is expected to publish an updated classification list for critical minerals this year. However, copper is considered a 'critical material' for energy, according to the Energy Department. 'The US has very limited current mining capacity,' Obstfeld said. 'It will take a decade or more to onshore copper production substantially. That will still leave copper prices much higher in the US, and in the meantime, American consumers and businesses will suffer even more.' Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Eight Ireland stars make Andy Farrell's first Lions Test team v Australia
Mack Hansen has lost his battle to be fit for the British and Irish Lions' first Test against Australia in Brisbane on Saturday. Andy Farrell has named eight of his Ireland team in the starting line-up, with three more on the bench, but there is no room in the matchday 23 for openside flanker Josh van der Flier. Hansen suffered a foot injury in the victory over the AUNZ Invitational team in Adelaide last Saturday and was a major doubt. The unavailability of Garry Ringrose due to concussion has cost Bundee Aki, with Farrell deciding to go with the Scottish centre pairing of Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones while keeping Connacht's Aki in reserve on a bench with a 5:3 split. There are still three Ireland players in the backline, with Hugo Keenan playing himself into form after injury to start at full-back with an injury issue costing Blair Kinghorn. Keenan's Leinster colleague James Lowe is named on the wing, with Northampton's Tommy Freeman completing the back three in the absence of Hansen. As expected, Jamison Gibson-Park forms the half-back partnership with Scotland's No.10 Finn Russell. There are five Ireland players in the pack. Hooker Dan Sheehan and tighthead Tadhg Furlong - starting a Test game on his third Lions tour - are joined by loosehead Ellis Genge, with Leinster pair Andrew Porter and Rónan Kelleher on the bench. Joe McCarthy's strong displays on the tour have earned him a start in the second row alongside skipper Maro Itoje, but there is room also for Munster captain Tadhg Beirne in the back row, with the Kildare man to wear the No.6 jersey. England's Tom Curry is at openside but, with Ollie Chessum and Ben Earl providing back row cover, van der Flier misses out. Jack Conan wears the No.8 jersey - making it seven Leinster players in the starting line-up. 'We are entering the business end of the tour and it is time to put in our best performance to date," said Farrell. 'We know how motivated the Wallabies will be and we know they are a well organised and dangerous side. 'It is a great occasion and a proud moment for Maro Itoje, who will captain the Test side, but also for those players who get the opportunity to represent the group on Saturday night. 'We have seen a flood of Lions supporters on the streets of Brisbane this week and we are looking forward to seeing a Sea of Red in the stands of the Suncorp Stadium cheering on the team.' Australia, meanwhile, have been dealt further injury blows with Joe Schmidt forced to leave out La Rochelle powerhouse Will Skelton, Rob Valentini and Taniela Tupou, while Castres back-row Nick Champion de Crespigny makes his debut for the Wallabies and Tom Lynagh starts at out-half. Australia: Tom Wright, Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'I, Len Ikitau, Harry Potter, Tom Lynagh, Jake Gordon; James Slipper, Matt Faessler, Allan Ala'alatoa, Nick Frost, Jeremy Williams, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson. Replacements: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Tom Robertson, Tom Hooper, Carlo Tizzano, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Andrew Kellaway. British and Irish Lions: Hugo Keenan, Tommy Freeman, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, James Lowe, Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park; Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Maro Itoje, Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, Jack Conan. Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Will Stuart, Ollie Chessum, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Bundee Aki. Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts.
