Michael Avenatti, on trial for trying to extort Nike for $15-25 million, lost a motion to obtain tape recordings and unredacted transcripts of conversations between Nike basketball executives and Gary Franklin, the former coach of an elite amateur basketball team that had NBA talent like Deandre Ayton. Franklin secretly recorded conversations with some Eager Beavertons that the controversial lawyer believes would show that he had a legitimate purpose in approaching Nike on behalf of Franklin to seek a settlement after Nike’s decided to terminate its deal with Franklin’s club. The government, Franklin and, not surprisingly, Nike all opposed to the ... Log in to view full article.