The Blazers are facing a massive sanction for contacting their “surprise” 2025 draft. Yankee Scores reports
The NBA has fined Portland Trail Blazers $100,000 for illegal contact with Yang Hansen in December 2023. The contact was made long before the 7-foot Chinese player was drafted by the Blazers two years later.
The league also suspended the Blazers’ assistant general managers, Mike Schmitz and Sergi Oliva, for two weeks without pay. Both the Blazers and the officials were cited for violating league rules on contact with draft-ineligible players in the case of Yang Hansen.
“When this was brought to our attention the Blazers self-reported to the NBA,” the team said in a statement. “The team cooperated fully with the investigation and accept the league’s determination.”
The Blazers acquired the rights of Yang Hansen through a draft night trade in 2025 with the Memphis Grizzlies. He was then drafted 16th overall.
Before being drafted by the Blazers, Yang Hansen played for the Qingdao Eagles in China’s top professional league for two seasons.
This season, Yang Hansen has played in 41 games as a rookie for the Blazers, averaging 2.3 points and 1.6 rebounds in 7.2 minutes per game.
Yang is the ninth Chinese player to be drafted to the NBA, and the third highest overall to be drafted. He is also the highest Chinese draft pick since Yi Jianlian in 2007, and the third-highest draft pick ever from China.
This development is on the heels of a new takeover by a group led by investor Tom Dundon.
The approval of the sale comes after the Oregon Legislature approved funds for the Moda Center renovation in early March.
