NBA Fines Trail Blazers, Suspends Personnel Over Yang Hansen

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The NBA has fined the Portland Trail Blazers $100,000 and suspended two assistant general managers for two weeks without pay for illegal contact the team made with Chinese prospect Yang Hansen in December 2023 - two years before he was drafted by the Grizzlies and later traded to the Blazers.

Why it matters

The NBA strictly prohibits teams from contacting or recruiting players who are not yet draft-eligible, in order to maintain a fair and competitive draft process. This penalty highlights the league's commitment to enforcing these rules and maintaining the integrity of the draft.

The details

According to the NBA's investigation, Trail Blazers assistant GMs Mike Schmitz and Sergi Oliva engaged in illegal contact with Hansen in December 2023, when he was still playing for the Qingdao Eagles in China's professional league and two years away from being draft-eligible. The Blazers self-reported the violation to the league, which resulted in the $100,000 fine and suspensions for Schmitz and Oliva.

• The illegal contact occurred in December 2023.
• Yang Hansen was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2025.
• The Trail Blazers acquired Hansen's rights in a 2025 draft-night trade.

What’s next

The NBA's investigation into the Trail Blazers' illegal contact with Yang Hansen is now closed, with the team accepting the league's penalties of a $100,000 fine and suspensions for two assistant GMs.