Trash talk and viral collisions: Behind the Lakers’ first big test

With each leak, the foundation of Lonzo Ball and the Lakers’ relationship seems to weaken. It is no secret that Ball and his ever-volatile father, LaVar, were determined to have him get drafted by the Lakers and build their legacy there. Ball had a respectable rookie season for the Lakers when healthy, but with LeBron James in Los Angeles and in need of another star, Ball’s future there is as precarious as ever. The Lakers have been in talks with the Spurs for the disgruntled Kawhi Leonard, but the Spurs seem more enamored with Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, Josh Hart and future draft picks than they do Ball. Any chance of Ball being included in that trade, however, seemed to end when it was reported

Anthony Davis is clearly the trade deadline’s biggest domino, but there are additional factors at play as the league inches closer to Thursday’s deadline.