No team would break NBA rules to add rookie center Yang Hansen, except for the Portland Trail Blazers.
On Wednesday, the league confirmed it has fined the Blazers $100K and suspended assistant general managers Sergi Oliva and Mike Schmitz for two weeks without pay for contacting Hansen in December 2023, well before the 20-year-old Chinese center was eligible for the NBA Draft. Teams, of course, are prohibited from connecting with prospects before they declare.
Trail Blazers respond to allegations
The Trail Blazers admitted to wrongdoing and released a statement.
“When this was brought to our attention, the Portland Trail Blazers self-reported to the NBA,” the team said in a statement, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. “The team cooperated fully with the investigation and accepts the league’s determination.”