The Portland Trail Blazers were fined $100,000 by the NBA on Wednesday for violating the league’s rules around contact with draft-ineligible players in 2023, the league announced.
Blazers assistant general managers Sergi Oliva and Mike Schmitz were also suspended for two weeks without pay. The offenses reportedly occurred during the team’s scouting of Blazers center Yang Hansen during the 2023-24 season.
The Blazers’ statement, via Fred Katz of The Athletic:
“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 Blazers drafted Hansen out of China with the 16th overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft. The seven-footer has appeared in 41 games for the Blazers this season, averaging 7.2 minutes per game almost entirely off the bench.
In addition to his AGM role, Oliva is the head coach of Portland’s G League affiliate, the Rip City Remix. He has been a member of the organization since 2024, having previously worked as an assistant coach under Quin Snyder with the Utah Jazz.
Schmitz previously worked for ESPN, Yahoo Sports and Draft Express before joining the Blazers in 2022.
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