Raptors Respond to Knicks' Lawsuit, Hint at Countersuit

Toronto team accuses Knicks of using lawsuit for publicity, seeks NBA arbitration for resolution.

The Toronto Raptors have pushed back against the New York Knicks' lawsuit over accusations of stolen video files, suggesting the Knicks are using the lawsuit for publicity and to harm the Raptors.
The Raptors' parent company, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), has raised the possibility of a countersuit against the Knicks for defamatory public statements.
The Knicks have accused the Raptors, MLSE, Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković, assistant coach Noah Lewis and video coordinator Ikechukwu Azotam of stealing over 3,000 video files of confidential information.
MLSE has asked the court to allow NBA commissioner Adam Silver to resolve the case, arguing that the NBA constitution governs both teams and mandates league arbitration.
The Knicks have pushed for the case to be heard in court, claiming that the NBA's arbitration clause is too broad and that Silver is too biased and close to MLSE board chairman Larry Tanenbaum to fairly adjudicate their case.