Report Knicks Make A Bold Step To Sign Raptors MVP In A Blockbuster Trade

The New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors are entering a new phase in their dispute over the former team member’s alleged theft of thousands of private papers to Toronto.

The Knicks were miffed by U.S. District Judge Jessica Clarke’s decision on Friday, which stated that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver ought to intervene and resolve the dispute.

The Knicks’ parent company, MSG Sports, said through a representative to ESPN that the franchise is “continuing to evaluate” its legal options. Ikechukwu Azotam, a Knicks employee from 2020 to 2023, allegedly took the papers with him in an attempt to provide Toronto a competitive advantage against its Atlantic Division foe. The Knicks sued the Raptors in August of last year.

Toronto had first requested that Silver mediate the conflict, but New York opposed the notion from the beginning, claiming that Silver was unable to act fairly due to the fact that Larry Tanenbaum, a co-owner of the Raptors, is the head of the NBA’s board of governors.

The Knicks informed ESPN following the ruling on Friday, having requested more than $10 million in damages in their lawsuit: In blatant breach of both criminal and civil law, “we (allegedly) were the victim of a theft of proprietary and confidential files,” the statement read. “We don’t believe it is appropriate for the NBA commissioner to make decisions on matters concerning his boss, the NBA chairman, and his team.” They promised to keep exploring other legal alternatives, as ESPN reports.

“The Raptors and (Raptors owner Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment) are pleased that the court agreed this should be resolved by the NBA, which we have maintained is the correct forum for disputes of this kind,” the team said in a statement to ESPN.