NBA Fines Portland Trail Blazers $100,000 for Illegal Contact with Yang Hansen
Mar 29, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers center Yang Hansen (16) greets fans as he walks toward the court or locker room before the game against the Washington Wizards at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images
The NBA delivered a stern message to the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday, imposing a $100,000 fine and suspending two key executives for illegal pre-draft contact with Yang Hansen. The sanctions highlight the league’s strict enforcement of rules governing interactions with draft-ineligible players.
Assistant general managers Mike Schmitz and Sergi Oliva received two-week suspensions without pay for their role in violating league protocols. The punishment stems from a December 2023 scouting trip to China, where both executives observed Hansen playing for the Qingdao Eagles in the Chinese Basketball Association.
Early interest leads to draft surprise
The Trail Blazers’ interest in Hansen began in 2023 when an international scout first spotted the 7-foot-1 center at the FIBA U-19 World Cup in Hungary. This early identification led to extensive monitoring throughout Hansen’s CBA career, culminating in Portland’s surprising first-round selection of the Chinese prospect.
The scouting trip that triggered the violations required months of preparation due to strict Chinese government regulations regarding foreign business operations. Schmitz and Oliva spent eight days in China, continuing to track Hansen’s development through the 2023-24 and 2024-25 CBA seasons.
Portland’s commitment to Hansen extended beyond observation, as the organization arranged a private workout and scrimmage between the Trail Blazers and a Chinese All-Star team featuring Hansen during Summer League 2024. The Trail Blazers ultimately acquired Hansen’s rights through a draft-night trade with the Memphis Grizzlies, who had selected him 16th overall.
« When this was brought to our attention the Portland Trail Blazers self-reported to the NBA, » the team stated. « The team cooperated fully with the investigation and accept the league’s determination. »
Hansen has appeared in 41 games during his rookie season, averaging 2.3 points and 1.6 rebounds in 7.2 minutes per game. While his selection shocked many draft analysts who projected him as a second-round pick, the Trail Blazers’ extensive pre-draft evaluation clearly influenced their decision to invest a first-round selection in the Chinese center.
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