NBA News Roundup, Monday, May 20th: Lonzo Ball to join the Chicago Bulls? Tacko Fall interesting the Knicks and more

With the NBA Finals now upon us, the playoffs are currently 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 20th.

Knicks considering Tacko Fall

Tacko Fall announced himself during UCF's narrow March Madness defeat to Duke

Tacko Fall was one of the surprise performers of the 2019 NCAA Tournament, although many expected the 23-year-old to go unpicked during the upcoming NBA draft. However, Marc Berman of the NY Post is reporting that Fall's stock is rising, and the New York Knicks are among the teams that are considering him:

The Knicks will begin private draft workouts Monday at their Tarrytown headquarters, and the first one up is also the tallest: 7-foot-7 Tacko Fall, The Post has learned.

The gargantuan Central Florida big man is coming off a rousing draft combine in Chicago, to which he was not even invited at the start. Fall needed to qualify in a pre-combine event, called the “Next 40,” that was staged earlier in the week before the lottery.

In addition to the No. 3 pick, the Knicks have a second-round pick, at 55, and now it’s unclear if Fall will fall that far after his combine coming-out party.

Fall averaged 11.1 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game during his senior season at UCF.

The Rockets are discussing extending Mike D'Antoni's contract

Houston Rockets v Golden State Warriors - Game Five

In the aftermath of the Houston Rockets' playoff elimination to the Golden State Warriors, the future of head coach Mike D'Antoni has been called into question. Yet, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that the Rockets are discussing a new contract with the 68-year-olds:

The Houston Rockets and coach Mike D'Antoni have had preliminary discussions on the framework of a contract extension that would keep the two-time NBA Coach of the Year from entering the final year of his deal.

It is unclear how significant of a commitment the Rockets are willing to make to D'Antoni, who told ESPN he prefers to avoid entering the final year of his original four-year contract in 2019-20 without an extension.

The veteran coach has spent three seasons with the Rockets, and ESPN's report is also stating that D'Antoni favors another three seasons with the team.

The Chicago Bulls are interested in Lonzo Ball

Lonzo Ball is being linked with an exit from the Lakers

Lonzo Ball's future with the Lakers has been called into question ever since the franchise acquired Rajon Rondo last summer. The 21-year-old managed to retain his place in the starting lineup, although he was among the players included in trade talks as the Lakers attempted to sign Anthony Davis.

Due to this, some figures around the NBA believe that Ball could be traded this summer, and K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune is reporting that the Chicago Bulls are among the interested teams:

[Lonzo] Ball intrigues the Bulls as a pass-first, defensive-minded point guard with positional size who can best maximize the talents of Lauri Marrkanen, Zach LaVine, and WendellCarter Jr.

Ball was selected by the Lakers with the second overall pick of the 2017 draft, although injuries have restricted him to less than 100 games.