The sale of the Portland Trail Blazers is facing a legal hiccup. RAJ Sports, the company run by the family that owns the WNBA’s Portland Fire and the National Women’s Soccer League’s Thorns, sued the Cherng family, who are set to buy a minority share in the Blazers. The suit is an attempt to prevent the Cherngs from being a part of the transaction.
RAJ Sports, which is run by siblings Alex Bhathal and Lisa Bhathal Merage, filed the lawsuit Monday in a Delaware court against Andrew and Peggy Cherng. The complaint is under seal, but a proposed order by RAJ Sports asked the judge to stop the Cherngs from “entering into or pursuing any agreement” for a stake in the Blazers. The Cherngs, who own Panda Express, are a part of the group led by Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon. On Sept. 12, Dundon and his investment group signed a purchase agreement to buy the Blazers from the Paul Allen estate for $4.25 billion.
Law360 first reported news of the lawsuit.
The suit also asks the judge to stop the Cherngs from “circumventing, bypassing, interfering with, competing with, or attempting to circumvent, bypass, interfere with, or compete with Plaintiff with respect to any transaction involving the Trail Blazers franchise, any portion of the Trail Blazers franchise’s assets, or any direct or indirect equity interests in the Trail Blazers franchise.” RAJ Sports claims the Cherngs breached an exclusivity agreement dated July 24, 2025.
RAJ Sports also filed for a restraining order and requested expedited proceedings in the lawsuit.
The Cherngs are part of an investor group that also includes private equity executives Marc Zahr and Sheel Tyle, and is led by Dundon. Tyle, who lives in the Portland area, and Peggy Cherng (a graduate of Oregon State University) have ties to Oregon.
The Bhathal family previously expressed interest in buying the Blazers to add to their portfolio of Portland franchises in the WNBA and NWSL. The family is also a minority owner of the Sacramento Kings. RAJ Sports declined to comment.
Representatives for the Blazers and the Paul Allen estate did not respond to emails.
(Photo: Ron Chenoy / USA Today Sports)
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