The NBA has fined the Portland Trail Blazers $100,000 for violating league rules regarding contact with draft-ineligible players during the 2023 offseason. The league also suspended assistant general managers Sergi Oliva and Mike Schmitz for two weeks without pay.
The violations are linked to the team's scouting of Chinese center Yang Hansen during the 2023-24 season before he was eligible for the draft. The Blazers self-reported the incident to the league upon discovery and cooperated fully with the investigation.
Portland later selected Hansen with the 16th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The 7-foot center has played a limited role off the bench in his rookie season.
Oliva, who also coaches Portland's G League team, and Schmitz, a former ESPN and Draft Express analyst, will serve their suspensions immediately.