The NBA hit the Portland Trail Blazers with a hefty punishment for “violating league rules governing contact with draft-ineligible players” by scouting Chinese 7-footer Yang Hansen in December 2023.
Portland selected the center with the No. 16 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft as part of a draft-night trade with the Grizzlies.
The NBA said Wednesday it’s fining the Trailblazers $100,000 and suspending assistant general managers Sergi Oliva and Mike Schmitz for two weeks each without pay.
The two front office personnel scouted Hansen, who was 18 at the time, making illegal contact with him before he was draft eligible.
“When this was brought to our attention the Portland Trail Blazers self reported to the NBA,” the league said in a statement, according to ESPN.
“The team cooperated fully with the investigation and accept the league’s determination.”
Hansen, who is a native of China, was a two-time All-Star for the Qingdao Eagles of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).
The 20-year-old rookie is averaging just 2.3 points and 1.6 rebounds in 7.2 minutes per game over 41 appearances for Portland this season.
The Trail Blazers are 39-38 and currently in the ninth spot in the Western Conference, just a half-game behind the Clippers for eighth place, and will compete in the league’s Play-In Tournament.
Portland secured its spot in the Play-In Tournament with a 134-99 victory over the Brooklyn Nets last week.