NBA News Roundup, Wednesday, May 15th: Jimmy Butler provides update on his future, Zion primed for New Orleans 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 going on around the NBA, here are the biggest news stories and rumors you need to know for May 15th.

Pelicans get No. 1 overall pick

Zion Williamson is expected to be the first pick of the draft

Entering last nights draft lottery, the New Orleans Pelicans had just a 6% chance of being awarded the number one pick. However, luck was on the Pelicans' side, as the franchise landed their first number one pick since 2012.

After the lottery, Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin told reporters.

I said earlier I don’t want to talk a whole lot of specifics about individual players, but I look at this as a situation where he is a wholly and unique talent. And we feel what we’re going to build is going to be wholly and unique as well. Hopefully all of this sort of comes to a place where we all feel like we’re meant to be together. This is about fit as much as anything else. Certainly the elite talent and the special characteristics are there, but most important to us are special human beings.

While Griffin didn't want to speak about individual players, the Pelicans are expected to use their number one pick on Zion Williamson -- the Duke teenager who has earned comparisons to LeBron James.

Terry Rozier appears on ESPN -- reveals frustration at his reserve role

Terry Rozier played as a reserve for much of the season

Terry Rozier has previously expressed his frustration at playing a reserve role in Boston, and he joined yesterday's edition of ESPN's 'First Take' to explain his reasoning.

I think anybody that was in my shoes than can go and start and, you know, go to a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference finals and then come back and we have the season that we have this year, I feel like anybody in my position would say it’s tough. I might have to go. I might have to go. You know, I put up with a lot this year, so, you know, I said what I said after the season, and I think we all know that I’m not trying to step into that again.

Rozier excelled for the Celtics during the 2018 playoffs, although the presence of Kyrie Irving largely confided him to the bench this season.

Jimmy Butler remains confident that he will land a max deal this summer

Jimmy Butler will test his free agency this summer

Philadelphia acquired Jimmy Butler back in November. The trade sent Dario Saric and Robert Covington to Minnesota, and Butler helped lead the Sixers to a 51-31 record. However, the Sixers suffered a disappointing Game 7 loss to Toronto in the semifinals, and during his exit interview via NBC Sports, Butler offered no guarantees that he will stay in Philadelphia:

I think, knock on wood, I will get a max contract anywhere I choose to go. So if you are talking a four-year, five-year [contract], that is more than enough money anyway. I think I still have more than enough money now from my first deal.

During his 55 appearances for the Sixers, Bulter averaged 18.2 points per game, 5.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists. He is expected to attract interest from the Los Angeles Lakers.