Portland fined $100,000, two executives suspended for illegal pre-draft contact with Yang Hansen
Portland caught the NBA off guard by drafting Hansen No. 16 last June. They said they had followed him closely.
Apparently so.
The Portland Trail Blazers have been fined $100,000, and two of their assistant general managers ā Sergi Oliva and Mike Schmitz ā have been suspended for two weeks without pay, all for making illegal pre-draft contact with Yang Hansen in December of 2023, the NBA announced. The following has been released by the NBA. pic.
twitter. com/qwS5bJogse ā NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 1, 2026 The Trail Blazers released this statement ( via Sean Highkin of the must-read Rose Garden Report): "When this was brought to our attention the Portland Trail Blazers self reported to the NBA. The team cooperated fully with the investigation and accept the league's determination.
" Hansen was a surprise No. 16 pick of the Trail Blazers last June, and when asked about the unexpected selection at the time, the Trail Blazers responded they had been watching him closely for years. Apparently, that's true.