Portland Trail Blazers assistant Tim Grgurich sued the team in a bid to coach elsewhere.
The suit, filed Thursday in U.S. District Court, also asks for $114,583 that Grgurich claims the team has withheld since July, as well as additional damages. It includes a temporary restraining order that would allow Grgurich to accept a job with another team.
The lawsuit contends that with training camp to start next week Grgurich will "suffer irreparable financial and professional harm" if not allowed to sign in the next few days with another NBA team for the 2005-06 season.
Blazers president Steve Patterson said the team has granted the Denver Nuggets permission to talk to the veteran assistant.
According to the suit, new Blazers coach Nate McMillan informed Grgurich on July 13 he was not wanted as an assistant. A day later, the team sent Grgurich a letter telling him he was suspended without pay because he did not work with the team's summer league team.
He reported to the summer league team in Las Vegas, but McMillan did not assign him duties, the affidavit said.
Grgurich was hired in July 2004 under former coach Maurice Cheeks. He signed a two-year contract, with a base salary of $550,000, that expires in July 2006.