With the Lakers and Spurs reportedly discussing a trade for disgruntled star Kawhi Leonard, rumors have indicated pretty much every young asset on L.A.'s roster—Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, Josh Hart, and Lonzo Ball—could be included in a potential deal. It is clear, however, that Lonzo and his team want him in the purple and gold, playing near his hometown—his father, LaVar, had made that desire known for a long time before he was even drafted.
Last week, it was reported that Lonzo was diagnosed with a torn meniscus. The timing seemed convenient—is it possible that Lonzo's camp leaked that news to lessen his value and prevent the Spurs from dealing for him? That's what the Lakers seem to believe, according to a new report.
"That injury, I think there was a belief around the Lakers is that it was within his world that that got leaked out there to keep him from getting traded," ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski said on his podcast released Wednesday. "He doesn't want to be traded from L.A. It wasn't the Lakers who wanted information out on that knee injury. There were a lot of teams who were checking on possible deals with the Lakers. They wanted to know. There were a lot of questions about that knee."
Woj added that Lonzo would need surgery on his knee, but later corrected that comment: he may need surgery.
Listening back to pod discussion on Lonzo Ball's knee injury, I misspoke: What I planned to say was that he may require surgery, not that he requires it. https://t.co/YcI2iV0CQc
Per Yahoo's Shams Charania, Ball should be ready by next season.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Lonzo Ball has a torn meniscus in his left knee, league sources tell Yahoo. Ball is expected to be ready for training camp next season.
Last season, the 20-year-old Ball averaged 10.2 points, 7.2 assists, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game while shooting 30.5 percent from three-point range.
