Even though Zion Williamson appears to be the consensus No. 1 player in the 2019 NBA draft class, the Phoenix Suns are reportedly enamored with a different player.

Per The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie, there is buzz around the NBA that the Suns “prefer to end up with” Murray State star Ja Morant.

Vecenie did note he is “skeptical” the Suns would pass on Williamson at No. 1 because the “financial windfall any team figures to experience by selecting Williamson is real.”

The links with Morant may exist in part because the Suns have been searching for a viable starting point guard since Eric Bledsoe was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in November 2017.

Source: Sam Vecenie of The Athletic via Bleacher Report

Former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Ty Lue and Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka met on Friday for approximately 90 minutes to discuss the franchise’s coaching vacancy, league sources told ESPN.

The conversation was described as relaxed and broad, a prelude to what the Lakers hope will be longer and more detailed discussions with top candidates Lue and Philadelphia 76ers assistant Monty Williams as soon as next week, league sources said.

Pelinka has plans to interview Miami Heat assistant Juwan Howard on Tuesday, league sources said.

Source: Adrian Wojnarowski and Dave McMenamin of ESPN

Chauncey Billups and the Minnesota Timberwolves will meet in near future to discuss the franchise’s President of Basketball Operations role, league sources tell me and @JonKrawczynski.

Chauncey Billups and the Minnesota Timberwolves will meet in near future to discuss the franchise’s President of Basketball Operations role, league sources tell me and @JonKrawczynski.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 19, 2019

Source: Shams Charania on Twitter