The tumultuous 2018-19 Los Angeles Lakers season may be over, but the circus surrounding the club continues.
In late February, the team needed to prevent Lonzo Ball from undergoing an unauthorized surgery on his left ankle that was planned by his former business partner Alan Foster and with LaVar Ball's knowledge, sources told The Athletic's Shams Charania.
When the Lakers learned about the situation after general manager Rob Pelinka received a call from Ball, the organization informed the point guard that it wouldn't allow the procedure and could void his contract if he went through with the surgery, according to Charania. Working with Ball's then-agent Harrison Gaines, the Lakers' brass managed to convince the second-year player to nix the procedure.
It's been a trying year for Ball on and off the court. The former second overall pick suffered a season-ending ankle injury Jan. 19 against the Houston Rockets and saw declines in several per game averages from his rookie year, including points, rebounds, and assists.
The 21-year-old recently cut ties with Foster after determining $1.5 million was missing from his business and personal accounts and learning about Foster's previous convictions for mail fraud and money laundering. He's also suing him for more than $2 million in damages, plus interest.
Ball fired Gaines last week and is now represented by Hollywood agency CAA.
