NBA NEWS

NBA Notes: Kerr to travel with Warriors for Game 3

The Sports Xchange

May 17, 2017 at 3:44 pm.

Mar 11, 2017; San Antonio, TX, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr watches from the sidelines during the first half against the San Antonio Spurs at AT&T Center. Photo Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Mar 11, 2017; San Antonio, TX, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr watches from the sidelines during the first half against the San Antonio Spurs at AT&T Center. Photo Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

The Golden State Warriors are two wins away from a third straight Western Conference title and ailing head coach Steve Kerr will make the trip to San Antonio for Game 3.

Kerr is on an indefinite leave of absence while he deals with pain and other issues from his 2015 back surgery. General manager Bob Myers said Wednesday that Kerr will make the trip on Thursday.

“He will be on the trip,” Myers said on 95.7 The Game in San Francisco.

It is unclear where Kerr will be or what he will be doing.

Assistant Mike Brown will continue to serve as head coach. Brown was on the sidelines as Golden State rolled to a 136-100 rout over the Spurs on Tuesday.

–There is only one team for UCLA point guard Lonzo Ball. At least that’s the take from his opinionated father, LaVar Ball, who said his son will only agree to a private workout for the Los Angeles Lakers.

“That’s all we working out for is the Lakers,” LaVar Ball said in an exclusive interview with Lakers Nation. “Just the Lakers. There’s nobody else that we need to work out for.”

LaVar Ball, who recently launched a $500-per-pair sneaker brand after major apparel lines such as Nike and Adidas passed on a deal with the Ball Family, told Lakers Nation there is “no doubt in my mind” that the Lakers will draft Lonzo Ball.

Lonzo Ball spent one season at UCLA before declaring for the 2017 NBA Draft.

–Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban says his team went into tank mode after being eliminated from NBA postseason contention this season.

The outspoken owner said on “The Dan Patrick Show” that it wasn’t the players’ fault, but he orchestrated moves to lower the team’s chances of success.

“Once we were eliminated from the playoffs, we did everything possible to lose games,” Cuban said on the radio show. “Once a guy walks on the court, they’re going to play their heart out. Particularly the young guys because they have something to prove.”

The Mavericks finished 33-49 in 2016-17 after starting an injury-marred season 3-15.

–Charlotte Hornets point guard Kemba Walker underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, the team announced.

The Hornets said the 27-year-old Walker had a “minor arthroscopic procedure” that will require approximately six weeks of recovery time.

Last May, Walker had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. The Hornets gave Walker a four-year, $48 million extension in October 2014.

In his sixth season in Charlotte, Walker averaged a career-high 23.2 points, 5.5 assists, 3.9 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 34.7 minutes in 79 games in 2016-17.

–Chicago Bulls guard Denzel Valentine underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle, according to multiple reports.

Valentine, who dealt with two separate ankle injuries in his rookie season, had the surgical procedure to “clean up” the area of the ankle, ESPN reported.

Valentine, 23, posted a picture on Instagram of him wearing a walking boot on Tuesday. After his rehab, he is expected to be ready to play for the Bulls in the Vegas Summer League in July.

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