The rebuilding of Lonzo Ball continues on. This time, Ball has agreed to part ways with his agent Harrison Gaines, per ESPN. In a statement to ESPN Ball said, “Harrison Gaines has been a trusted advisor and close friend for many years. He guided my NBA career with integrity and always had my best interests at heart." Gaines has been Ball’s agent since the guard departed UCLA for a professional career. Ball was his first client and he later went on to create SLASH Sports, an agency that represents several other former NBA players, including Jamal Franklin and Jabari Brown among others. Lonzo continues to rebuild Ball’s parting way with Gaines is one of several moves made by the Lakers guard in recent weeks. This week, he filed a lawsuit against Big Baller Brand co-founder Alan Foster for using a “fraudulent scheme” that took money away from him. Ball said that the decision to part ways with Gaines was unrelated. "Harrison has always had my back and although we will no longer be working together after mutually deciding to part ways; our relationship will always be bigger than basketball,” Ball’s statement to ESPN continued. Prior to suing Foster, Ball distanced himself from his family’s Big Baller Brand. First, Ball posted a photo to Instagram hinting at a possible union with Nike. Later, he had his Big Baller Brand tattoo covered up with a pair of dice. The young ballplayer was shut down in early March due to a left ankle injury. More from Yahoo Sports:<doc-sep>Lonzo Ball had been with Harrison Gaines since he declared for the NBA draft in April 2017. After about two full years together, Lonzo Ball and agent Harrison Gaines have agreed to end their working relationship, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com. Gaines has been his agent since Ball declared for the NBA draft back in April of 2017. In a statement to ESPN, Ball explained that "Gaines has been a trusted advisor and close friend for many years" and he worked with "integrity" and always had Ball's "best interests at heart." "Harrison has always had my back and although we will no longer be working together after mutually deciding to part ways, our relationship will always be bigger than basketball," Ball said in the statement. In his own statement to ESPN, Gaines said Ball "has been nothing short of phenomenal and is one of the bright young NBA Stars" and that he wishes him "great success in the future." This move comes about two weeks after Ball had to sever ties with Big Baller Brand co-founder Alan Foster over $1.5 million being missing from Ball's accounts. He is now suing Foster for damages of at least $2 million. Per Shelburne, LaVar Ball still has something in store for the brand. LaVar Ball is also playing a role in vetting candidates to be Lonzo's agent. According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, LaVar is inquiring if any agencies have the power to pair his three sons on the same NBA team. However, Ball noted the move to part ways with Gaines had nothing to do with that situation and Gaines was supportive of Ball through that ordeal. Gaines himself was never officially associated with Big Baller Brand, but he did launch SLASH Sports, an agency that also represents Yale's Miye Oni, according to ESPN, who is looking to get picked in the 2019 NBA draft. Oni is listed at No. 62 in Jeremy Woo's latest Big Board. Ball, who averaged 9.9 points, 5.4 assists and 5.3 rebounds in his second NBA season, has not been on the court since Jan. 19 when he suffered a season-ending ankle injury against the Rockets. The Lakers asked Ball if his Big Baller Brand sneakers might have been related to the injury.<doc-sep>Lonzo Ball is in the market for a new agent. The Lakers guard on Thursday severed ties with Harrison Gaines. Ball and Gaines termed the parting mutual, ESPN.com reported, and Ball told the website the decision was not related to his lawsuit against Alan Foster, who co-founded the Big Baller Brand apparel company with Ball's father, LaVar. "Harrison has always had my back and although we will no longer be working together after mutually deciding to part ways; our relationship will always be bigger than basketball," Ball said in a statement to ESPN.com. MORE: LeBron proud of Lonzo taking control of situation Lonzo Ball was Gaines' first client, ESPN.com noted, dating to Ball's time at UCLA. Gaines now operates his own agency, SLASH Sports. The younger Ball, 21, is accusing Foster of stealing $1.5 million from Big Baller; Lonzo Ball owns 51 percent of the company, according to documents obtained by ESPN. Ball severed ties with Foster last month as reports of Foster's alleged embezzlement were being published. Foster owns 16.3 percent of Big Baller Brand, according to reports<doc-sep>
Ramona Shelburne weighs in on Lonzo Ball's $2 million lawsuit against the former co-founder and manager of Big Baller Brand. (1:10) Los Angeles Lakers guard Lonzo Ball and his agent, Harrison Gaines, have mutually agreed to part ways. "Harrison Gaines has been a trusted advisor and close friend for many years," Ball told ESPN in a statement. "He guided my NBA career with integrity and always had my best interests at heart." Although the announcement comes two weeks after Ball severed ties with and sued former Big Baller Brand co-founder Alan Foster for damages of at least $2 million, Ball insisted Gaines supported him through that situation and that this decision was unrelated. "Harrison has always had my back and although we will no longer be working together after mutually deciding to part ways; our relationship will always be bigger than basketball," Ball said in the statement. Gaines had been Ball's agent since Ball left UCLA after his freshman season. Ball was Gaines' first client, but unlike many others hired by Lonzo's father, LaVar Ball, Gaines was never a part of Big Baller Brand. Instead, he founded his own agency, SLASH Sports, with which he represents former NBA prospect Xavier Thames and former NBA players Jamaal Franklin, Isaiah Austin, Jabari Brown. He also represents Yale's Miye Oni, whom ESPN's Jonathan Givony ranks as No. 53 among ESPN's top 100 prospects for this summer's draft. "Lonzo Ball was the first client to sign with me. He has been nothing short of phenomenal and is one of the bright young NBA Stars. I thank him and his family for giving me an opportunity," Gaines told ESPN in a statement. "Mutually, we have decided to part ways. I wish Lonzo great success in the future. As I turn this page, I will continue to work hard for all of my clients."