NBA News Roundup, Friday, May 31st: Kyrie Irving not joining the Lakers, Mike D'Antoni's Rockets future in the balance and more

With the NBA Finals now upon us, the playoffs are the talk of the basketball world, although there is no shortage of other stories emerging from around the league.

The 2019 draft is just weeks away, and teams will be hoping to strike gold by drafting either Zion Williamson or Ja Morant. Meanwhile, Anthony Davis continues to be linked with a blockbuster trade, and a host of stars including Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard, and Kemba Walker are about to hit free agency.

So, with plenty happening around the NBA, here are the biggest news stories and rumors you need to know for May 31st.

Mike D'Antoni ends contract extension talks

Mike D'Antoni's future with the Rockets is in doubt

Mike D'Antoni has just one-year remaining on his existing deal with the Houston Rockets, and the 68-year-old has previously expressed his desire to stay for another three seasons. However, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN is reporting that D'Antoni has recently pulled out of talks over an extension:

Mike D'Antoni has ended talks with management about a contract extension, league sources told ESPN. D'Antoni plans to complete the final season of his deal in 2019-20, which could become a pathway to his own free agency the next year.

There had been conversations constructed around the Rockets' idea of a performance-based extension, but those never gained traction with D'Antoni's camp, sources said. The successes in his three years on the job -- four Western Conference series victories, a conference finals appearance and an NBA coach of the year award -- led D'Antoni to believe that a potential extension would follow the more traditional guaranteed framework of comparable coaching peers.

Under D’Antoni, the Rockets have made the postseason in three straight seasons. They came within one game of reaching the NBA Finals last season but suffered a disappointing 4-2 semifinal exit to the Warriors earlier this month.

Zion Williamson signs with CAA Sports

Zion Williamson is expected to be drafted by the Pelicans

On Thursday morning, CAA Sports took to Twitter to announce that they will represent Zion Williamson. The Duke product had been searching for representation ahead of next months NBA draft, and ESPN is reporting that Williamson generated a huge amount of interest:

CAA basketball agent Austin Brown and CAA executive Lisa Joseph-Metelus will represent Williamson, sources told ESPN. Williamson, 19, has been pursued with great enthusiasm from potential endorsers, including shoe companies. Williamson is expected to command one of the largest rookie shoe deals in history.

Following a breakout season with Duke, Williamson will enter the NBA as one of the most talked-about rookies in recent memory. The 19-year-old has been compared to LeBron James, and a number of leading sportswear brands are eager to make Williamson one of their most prominent athletes. The New Orleans Pelicans plan to pick Williamson with their number one pick next month.

Kyrie Irving won't be heading to the Lakers

Since the turn of the year, Kyrie Irving has refused to commit his future to the Boston Celtics

Reports earlier this week suggested that the Los Angeles Lakers were among the frontrunners to sign Kyrie Irving, however, according to Jackie MacMullan of ESPN, Irving won't be linking up with LeBron James this summer:

I did a little digging around, and my feeling is very strongly that – while LeBron and Kyrie have kissed and made up – that Kyrie is not going there. He’s just not. I just don’t believe it. And I think people close to him just don’t believe it either.

Irving and James previously teamed up with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the duo combined to help the Cavs win the 2016 championship. However, with a move for Irving now looking unlikely, the LeBron and the Lakers will have to look elsewhere for help.