Trail Blazers Face NBA Penalties for Draft Misconduct

The Portland Trail Blazers organization has been penalized by the NBA for violating league rules regarding contact with prospective players. The penalties, announced Wednesday evening by ESPN’s Shams Charania, stem from illegal communication with forward Yang Hansen two years prior to the 2025 NBA Draft.

Details of the Infraction and Penalties

The Trail Blazers have been fined $100,000 as a result of the infraction. Assistant general managers Mike Schmitz and Sergi Oliva have each been suspended for two weeks, according to sources. The team self-reported the incident and fully cooperated with the NBA’s investigation.

Hansen's Draft and Current Performance

Portland notably selected Hansen at No. 16 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, trading up to secure his selection. Hansen, a 7-foot-1 player from China, averaged 16.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.6 blocks per game for Qingdao in the 2024-25 CBA season.

So far in the 2025-26 NBA season, Hansen has appeared in 41 games for the Trail Blazers, averaging 2.3 points, 1.6 rebounds, 0.5 assists, and 0.2 blocks in 7.2 minutes per game. He has also played in 14 games with the Rip City Remix in the G League, where he averages 17.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.6 blocks.

Timeline of Events and League Rules

The illegal scouting occurred in December 2023, before Hansen declared for the NBA draft. NBA rules prohibit teams from contacting players before they officially declare their eligibility. The Trail Blazers acknowledged the violation and accepted the league’s decision.

“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,” the team stated to Charania.

Future Outlook

Despite the penalty, the NBA views the infraction as minor. The Trail Blazers’ future draft picks are contingent on their performance in the Western Conference Play-In Tournament; a loss could result in a lottery pick, while a postseason berth would convey their selection to Chicago. At 20 years old, Hansen is expected to continue developing with the team.