NBA News Roundup, Wednesday, May 22nd: Tobias Harris attracting interest from around the NBA, Pelicans determined to keep Anthony Davis 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 22nd.

Pelicans determined to keep Anthony Davis in New Orleans

Anthony Davis wants to exit the New Orleans Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans hold the number one pick in the upcoming 2019 NBA draft, yet despite the prospect of playing alongside Zion Williamson, Anthony Davis has reaffirmed his desire to leave the franchise.

Nevertheless, Davis still has a year to run on his contract, and Pelicans general manager David Griffin says he is dedicated to keeping Davis in New Orleans:

We'll probably sit together in Los Angeles at some point around the draft workouts that take place there. And I think that's the next step -- really to look each other in the eye and talk about what's important to us.

And we're very optimistic from previous conversations with Rich Paul, his agent, and with all of the people here that know Anthony and know what he's about. We're very confident that we have a compelling situation for him here.

And if winning is what he is indeed all about, which we have every reason to believe, we feel confident that we can create -- and are creating -- the right environment for Anthony and frankly for high-caliber players of all types to want to be a part of. This is something that we hope creates an energy that recruits itself, and Anthony would just be one step in that process.

Following a disappointing start to the season, Davis requested a trade ahead of the February trade deadline. However, the Pelicans refused to deal the 26-year-old to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Tobias Harris attracting plenty of interest

Tobias Harris will enter free agency this summer

Tobias Harris only joined the Philadelphia 76ers ahead of the trade deadline, although he is already heading into free agency. The Sixers are believed to be keen to retain the 26-year-old, although according to Keith Pompey of Philly.com, Harris is attracting plenty of interest from rival teams:

According to several sources, the Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz, Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets are among the teams that will all go after the forward in free agency. All five teams can offer maximum-salary contracts.

By trading for Harris, the Sixers acquired his Bird rights. That enables them to offer him a five-year, $188 million max contract. Even though the Sixers can offer an extra season and an extra $47 million, Harris has leverage because he’s in demand.

Harris played 27 times for Philadelphia, averaging 18.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game.

LeBron James concerned with the state of the Lakers

LeBron James is concerned that the Lakers will struggle to attract free agents

The Los Angeles Lakers endured a miserable 18/19 season, and the franchise is now facing a difficult summer. Magic Johnson has already left the team, while reports continue to expose ongoing power struggles behind the scenes. Due to the ongoing turmoil, Sam Amick of The Athletic is reporting that LeBron James is concerned by the current state of the franchise:

Even before Magic's latest move, sources close to LeBron James expressed concern that the combination of Magic’s messy exit and all the negative Lakers headlines threatened to sabotage their summer.

The challenge of convincing another elite star to come to town was already seen as daunting around the league, and now these horrendous optics make that uphill climb far worse.

Top-tier talents like Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving, Jimmy Butler and all the rest of them will have plenty of options when July rolls around, and none – not even the Knicks and certainly not the crosstown Clippers – have the Lakers’ level of dysfunction that’s being exposed right now.

Entering the offseason, the Lakers are hopeful of completing a trade for Anthony Davis, while also adding shooters around LeBron James.