The LA Lakers are in the news again for all the wrong reasons.
After an embarrassing 48-point loss to the Utah Jazz, the Lakers, specifically D'Angelo Russell has placed himself and teammate Nick Young in another controversy even as the sexual assault accusation against Young and Jordan Clarkson has yet to be resolved.
Although recent developments seem to favor the Lakers as the allegation was no longer pursued, this new issue involves two teammates and the teams trust. ESPN reporter Ramona Shelburne has mentioned that it has caused a "rift."
Lakers rookie D'Angelo Russell had a conversation with Nick Young about other women he's been with. Unbeknownst to Young, Russell was recording the conversation on video. The video could have consequences because Young is currently engaged to Australian singer/rapper Iggy Azalea.
The video was reportedly made and spread before the Utah Jazz game and it was pointed as one of the reasons why the team played so bad.
Shelburne gathered comments from team sources. "Right now," one source said, "they're handling it by isolating him."
From another team insider: "This was a prank gone wrong and a mistake by [Russell], and he has to be held accountable, but I would hope he isn't overly criticized for it."
The Lakers locker room is abuzz about it because they no longer trust Russell. It was even mentioned that Russell was left alone during a breakfast meeting because no one wanted to sit with him.
It was also recounted that when Russell sat next to Lou Williams on the bench, the veteran got up and walked away.
"It's bad," Shelburne quoted another source. "It's about as bad as it can get. There were trust issues already. Now there's no trust."
The audible content in the short video: Russell asked Young about a girl. "You was 30 and she was 19?"
Russell then asked: "What about Amber Rose?" and Young replied: "No, she knows my girl,".
Russell was later heard telling Young, "I'm glad you told my video all that."
"Huh?" Young says, surprised and turning towards Russell.
SB Nation noted some points on this "feud."
Nick Young could actually sue Russell. SB Nation elaborates that "California is a two-party consent state, which means that (assuming the recording was made in California, as it appears) Russell may have violated the law regarding the recording of private conversations." Some fans may recall this because of the Donald Sterling saga.
Yet SB Nation's Tom Ziller thinks it's highly unlikely that it will reach that point. Nor will it affect Russell's future with the team. The Lakers would rather trade off the veterans rather than trade the Ohio State standout whom they invested the 2nd overall draft pick with.
There is also a question that it might be staged, Ziller said. The expected reaction was for Iggy Azalea to come out but she actually thanked Russell.
Azalea has a new single titled "Team" and the timing seems right, as Ziller noted, but this is simply speculation on his part.