Raptors aim to dismiss ‘baseless’ Knicks lawsuit

In a harshly worded court filing Monday, the Raptors seek to dismiss the Knicks’ recent lawsuit against them for allegedly conspiring to steal thousands of confidential scouting files, calling it “baseless” and a “PR stunt.” ” from the Knicks, according to a copy of the file obtained by ESPN.

Additionally, the Raptors have asked NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to resolve the dispute between the two Atlantic Division rivals, with an attorney for Raptors owner Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment writing that the lawsuit “does not does not have to waste judicial resources given the global arbitration clause in the parties’ constitutive agreement.

In August, the Knicks sued the Raptors, members of the Toronto organization and a former Knicks employee who they said had “unlawfully obtained and then disclosed confidential information” to the Raptors.

In the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, the Knicks accused Ikechukwu Azotam, who worked for the Knicks from 2020 to 2023, of sending the Raptors thousands of confidential files, including game frequency reports , a preparation book for the 2022-23 season, video scouting files, opposition research and more – after the team began recruiting him to join their organization in the summer of 2023.

The Knicks accused Azotam — who worked for the Knicks as an assistant video coordinator and then as director of video/analytics/player development assistant — with violating a confidentiality clause in an employment contract and alleged that Raptors members were “directing Azotam’s work.” actions and/or knowingly benefited from the illicit acts of Azotam.

In Monday’s filing, the Raptors’ attorney wrote: “The Knicks’ conduct since the beginning of this dispute leaves no doubt that their goal has been to attract negative press attention against the defendants designated rather than pursuing valid claims.”

The Raptors’ lawyer also wrote that the allegations were “false and exaggerated” and that the alleged “data theft” involved little more than publicly available information compiled from public sources readily available to all members of the NBA.

“These weren’t Knicks team and player stats, play frequency data, player trends, or play calls, but rather those of other NBA teams – including specifically the Raptors’ own game film – compiled from video of their game.” games accessible to all NBA teams (and, of course, the general public). In other words, they were far from confidential, much less trade secrets. The Knicks surely know that.

An MSG spokesperson released the following statement to ESPN on Monday: “As we have previously stated, given the theft of proprietary and confidential files and the blatant violation of criminal and civil law, we have had no further action. “no other choice than to take the case to federal court and we are confident that the court system will agree.

On August 25, 2023, approximately a week after the Knicks filed the suit, the Raptors sent an email to NBA General Counsel Rick Buchanan asking Silver to assert jurisdiction over the dispute with the teams, in accordance with regulation “d” of article 24 of the law. the constitution of the NBA.

These regulations stipulate that “The commissioner will have exclusive, full, complete and final jurisdiction over any dispute involving two (2) or more members of the Association.”

On August 26, Buchanan sent an email to Madison Square Garden Sports’ general counsel, requesting a response. On September 7, in an email to Buchanan, the Knicks objected to Silver resolving the dispute, arguing that the settlement does not give the NBA “exclusive” authority over criminal cases involving players, staff or teams.

“Law and public order require that the parties continue to receive due process in official legal proceedings and that the NBA take no action to impede that process,” wrote an attorney representing the Knicks in the e -mail. “We believe that the New York Knicks (and the Toronto Raptors for that matter) are obligated to provide continued cooperation, and further believe that any attempt by the Commissioner to intervene in this dispute would be inappropriate, futile and dependent on the determination of all parties involved.”

A day later, Buchanan emailed attorneys representing both teams and said the league would comply with further proceedings in Manhattan’s Southern District Court “to determine whether this dispute should be resolved in court federal or before”. [Silver]”.

At the Raptors’ media day on October 2, Raptors president Masai Ujiri addressed the lawsuit, saying, “There was one time where a team sued an NBA team. One time. Go figure. “

Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković also addressed the lawsuit during the team’s media day, saying: “I was surprised. I was shocked. I didn’t know where it came from was coming.

He continued: “What I can say is that I know who I am. I know how my parents raised me. I know what I see every day when I look in the mirror. I know that “There’s nothing I should worry about. …And I can’t wait for this trial to end so everyone can find out the truth.”