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The New York Knicks proceed to tackle the Toronto Raptors off the court docket.
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Simply over a month after the Raptors sought to get a lawsuit between the 2 NBA franchises dismissed, the Knicks fired again in a 24-page response filed Monday in a New York court docket.
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The Knicks are searching for greater than $10 million US within the lawsuit and argue that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver can’t be the arbitrator of the case as a result of he’s tight with Raptors co-owner and chairman Larry Tanenbaum, Sportsnet New York’s Ian Begley and the New York Publish reported on Monday.
The Knicks argued within the response that Tanenbaum, who can be the chairman of the NBA’s Board of Governors, “serves as Silver’s boss and workouts management over and closely influences Silver’s continued employment and wage,” based on the Publish.
“Amongst different issues, Tanenbaum has been described as ‘an in depth ally of Commissioner Adam Silver.’ Silver himself described Tanenbaum as ‘not simply my boss because the chairman of the board of governors, however he’s very a lot a task mannequin in my life.’
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“If Silver had been to preside over the moment dispute, he can be arbitrating a case for his boss and ally,” the response mentioned.
The Knicks have alleged that Ike Azotam, previously the Knicks’ video coordinator, stole video experiences compiled whereas he labored for the Knicks and gave them to the Raptors when he was employed by Toronto.
Raptors president Masai Ujiri scoffed at media day in regards to the lawsuit, saying: “There was one time a crew has sued a crew within the NBA,” Ujiri mentioned. “One time. Go determine.”
The Raptors’ mother or father firm, Maple Leaf Sports activities & Leisure, beforehand filed a movement to dismiss the lawsuit, calling it “baseless.”
The Raptors declined to touch upon the most recent developments on Monday.
Silver can solely levy a penalty on a crew of as much as $10 million, Begley famous. However the Knicks are searching for extra and that’s a part of the explanation they need this determined with out Silver and the NBA making the decision.
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“Because the Knicks intend to show at trial, damages exceed $10 million,” the paper learn. “The Knicks additionally intend to hunt attorneys’ charges,” the Publish reported the response famous.
ESPN elaborated on New York’s stance. “Opposite to Defendants’ claims, this isn’t a dispute about basketball operations,” the Knicks wrote, based on ESPN. “There is no such thing as a nexus between the claims and the NBA Structure — it’s a dispute in regards to the theft of commerce secrets and techniques by a disloyal worker, a state of affairs not contemplated by the NBA Structure. Commerce secret misappropriation, breaches of contract, and tort claims are the kinds of points routinely showing earlier than federal judges. We’re unaware of the NBA Commissioner ever having dealt with one thing related. As a matter of contract formation, the arbitration provision can’t be utilized to Plaintiff’s claims.”
An MSG Spokesman advised the Publish on Monday: “We had been the sufferer of a theft of proprietary and confidential information, which is a transparent violation of prison and civil regulation, and we stay assured that the Courtroom will determine in our favor on this matter.”
Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic, participant improvement coach Noah Lewis and 10 “unknown” Raptors workers had been additionally listed as defendants within the Knicks’ lawsuit.
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