A statement from an MSG spokesperson added that the lawsuit was filed after the ex-employee "illegally took thousands of proprietary files with him to his new position" with the Raptors.

"These files include confidential information such as play frequency reports, a prep book for the 2022-23 season, video scouting files and materials and more," according to the statement. "Given the clear violation of our employment agreement, criminal and civil law, we were left no choice but to take this action.”

According to a source, the Knicks reached out to the Raptors and NBA about the issue before filing the lawsuit.

"MLSE and the Toronto Raptors received a letter from MSG on Thursday of last week bringing this complaint to our attention. MLSE responded promptly, making clear our intention to conduct an internal investigation and to fully cooperate," MLSE and the Raptors said in a statement. "MLSE has not been advised that a lawsuit was being filed or has been filed following its correspondence with MSG. The company strongly denies any involvement in the matters alleged. MLSE and the Toronto Raptors will reserve further comment until this matter has been resolved to the satisfaction of both parties."

The lawsuit names Ikechukwu Azotam as the former Knicks employee who “illegally procured and disclosed proprietary information” to members of the Raptors, including new head coach Darko Rajakovic and other members of the coaching staff.

The suit alleges that Azotam signed an agreement as a Knicks employee with a "confidentiality clause requiring him to maintain the secrecy of all confidential or proprietary Knicks information."

Per the lawsuit, Azotam, who worked for the Knicks as an assistant video coordinator and then as a director of video/analytics/player development assistant from 2020-23, was recruited to work for the Raptors in or around June of this year. With Rajakovic serving as a first time head coach, the lawsuit claims the Raptors “conspired to use Azotam’s position as a current Knicks insider to funnel proprietary information to the Raptors to help them organize, plan, and structure the new coaching and video operations staff.”

Azotam informed the Knicks of an offer to work for the Raptors in July, at which time he began “secretly forwarding proprietary information from his Knicks email account to his personal Gmail account, which he then shared with the Raptors Defendants. These materials included scouting reports, play frequency reports, a prep book, and a link to third-party licensed software,” the lawsuit reads.

So this year they have a new type of group ticket package called a 42 game pack. It's basically season seats but with no option to renew.

This is probably because they gave season seats holders the option to take a one year break without paying for their seats, so they have a bunch of seats available.

And I can't imagine demand is high this year.

Ok Raptors fam here…are we having trouble keeping a conversation going because it’s midsummer or because we’re not getting reason to hope for an interesting season ahead?

Personally, I’m seriously wondering if there’s any point to keeping our SN and TSN subscriptions.

Will I really be willing to invest my viewing time in a season that promises to be no better than last and without the exciting of seeing a crop of new players develop? Seriously, a couple of seasons ago I was more invested in watching Banton and the others in 905 games. I just feel weary thinking about taking in the main team in the fall.

How are others feeling?

Take a break from the Siakam trade rumour pile-on and checkout some behind the scenes at Summer League.

The Raptors have saved themselves $1.9 million for next season and opened up a roster spot to fill with someone else on a minimum contract.

In all likelihood, that open spot will go to Jeff Dowtin Jr., who currently remains unsigned, having been tendered a two-way qualifying offer earlier this summer. Throughout the end of last season, the Raptors made it clear they wanted to have Dowtin back with the team this year.

While rumours, speculations and ‘expert’ grading of trade rumours reach a fever pitch around Pascal Siakam, Sports Illustrated is bringing the conversation back around to OG Anunoby with citing a Bleacher Report of report of a possible trade to the Orlando Magic.

Chris Walder’s quippy tweet in reaction to some OG trade scenarios floating about says “Thanks for making the Toronto Raptors infinitely worse.”

Thoughts?

A deep dive on the increasing amount of trade chatter surrounding Toronto Raptors All-Star forward Pascal Siakam. Why now? What's Siakam's market value on a potentially expiring deal? And which trade destination makes the most sense between the Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic, New York Knicks, L.A. Clippers, or Chicago Bulls?

"I just think it was time for a change in scenery for everybody," said VanVleet. "Ultimately, we weren't able to keep going but on the other end, I had a great offer on the table while I'm still talking to (the Raptors), so now you put them together and you weigh them out and it was really, really, really tough — my stomach was in knots trying to figure it out because it was no wrong choice.

"Those are the hardest choices to make — when there's no wrong way to go. I could've went back for whatever the deal was or I could go start something new, and ultimately I just chose a new setup."

Per league sources, the Raptors are still listening, trying to gauge the market value for their leading scorer and leading returning – in theory – playmaker. Atlanta remains a possibility, Indiana has reached out while Orlando is another team that bears watching.

The Raptors don’t intend to drag the process out for weeks or months, but they don’t seem ready to close the door on a Siakam trade just yet. Meanwhile, they still remain committed to avoiding a total rebuild — in other words, nothing they do or don’t do with Siakam will make them any more inclined to trade O.G. Anunoby, the 25-year-old all-NBA defender who also has one year left on his deal. Teams are welcome to call about Anunoby, but don’t expect a call back — that's the message.

Looking forward to this.

Nowell looking promising

Interesting. I remember when there were rumours between Fred and Scotty not getting along.

If you’re tracing the devolution of the Raptors franchise, from their crowning championship achievement in 2019 to their latest bit of off-season hard luck, there’s at least one consistent through-line.

As it was with Kawhi Leonard, and Danny Green, and Serge Ibaka, and Marc Gasol, so it was with VanVleet. The Raptors lost each of them to free agency for what amounts to nothing. In the ongoing dismantling of what’s left of a championship team, the Raptors have received very little in return for some of their best players.

Non-paywalled link

In this episode of Open Gym, Toronto Raptors 13th overall pick on the 2023 Draft, Gradey Dick, is introduced.

Words can’t do justice to how thankful I am to the city that watched me grow from a young kid praying for a chance to a NBA CHAMPION, all-star, and a father of 3! I am forever indebted to the franchise that gave me a shot when no one else would. We built things together that can never be broken, and accomplished things that will stand forever. I went from the fans not knowing who I was, to fan favorite, to most hated 🤣 and I’m thankful for every second of it. To the city, franchise, and country that watched me grow every step of the way - THANK YOU🙏🏽❤️

Jalen McDaniels has agreed to a two-year, $9.3 million contract with the Toronto Raptors and will leave the 76ers in free agency, a league source confirmed to The Inquirer.

McDaniels’ length and athleticism, though, are coveted attributes in the modern NBA. He spent the first three-plus seasons of his NBA career with the Hornets, and was averaging career-highs in points (10.6), rebounds (4.8), assists (2.0) and steals (1.2) in his 56 games with Charlotte last season before being traded. He was a second-round draft pick in 2019.

After four and a half seasons as coach and general manager of the Sky, James Wade has accepted an assistant coaching job with the Toronto Raptors, the team announced Saturday. Wade’s final game for the Sky was Friday night’s win against the Sparks. Emre Vatansever will take over on an interim basis beginning with the Sky’s game against the Fever Sunday.

Anunoby told representatives during meetings with prospective agents, according to people familiar with the situation, that he was searching for greater ball-handling and playmaking duties in advance of his upcoming contract talks

Joining as an officer in the order is Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri.

Ujiri first joined the Raptors organization as an executive in 2008 before leaving to become the general manager of the Denver Nuggets in 2010. Born in Nigeria, he was the first African to hold a general manager position in U.S. professional sports.

Returning to the Raptors in 2013, Ujiri helped build the team that won the franchise's first NBA championship in 2019.

While he's mostly known for his work in professional basketball, Ujiri also launched the non-profit organization Giants of Africa, a youth basketball program. He is also known for being outspoken about anti-Black racism in Canada and the U.S.

The Toronto Raptors have re-signed centre Jakob Poeltl to a four-year, $80-million deal, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports.