TORONTO (AP) The Toronto Raptors must pay center Nate Huffman the $2.56 million he is owed on his terminated contract, an arbitrator ruled.

Huffman signed a three-year, $5.2-million contract before last season, but the Raptors tried to terminate the deal after six months. The team said Huffman didn't tell them about a history of knee problems.

The arbitrator issued his ruling Friday.

Toronto general manager Glen Grunwald declined comment early Monday, but said the team would release a statement later in the day.

Huffman's agent, Bill Duffy filed a grievance after Huffman was released, and the matter went before an arbitrator. Duffy said the 7-foot-1 center never saw a doctor about his knee before signing with Toronto.

``He only saw trainers, and that's not uncommon for professional athletes. All those guys live in the training room,'' Duffy said. ``It was never to the point where he had to go to a doctor for his knee, so in his mind it was just a regular problem.''

Huffman averaged 3.3 points and 3.3 rebounds in seven games for Toronto before being sidelined indefinitely with a sore right knee. He had surgery in October 2002. He has not played since leaving the Raptors.

Huffman signed with Toronto in July 2002 after averaging 18.8 points and 7.5 rebounds for Israeli League champion Maccabi Elite Tel-Aviv.

Via Associated Press

Toronto Raptors

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