West Notes: Kings, Mike Brown, Timberwolves, Clippers

Kings

Warriors coach Steve Kerr offered plenty of praise for new Kings coach Mike Brown, Kerr’s former assistant.

“Mike is brilliant. He’s just got so much energy, so much love for the game, love for his job, for his work,” Kerr told reporters. “He brings his enthusiasm every single day and that’s what we enjoyed so much over the last five, six years, however long he was here, and he and I were really a perfect pair.

“He sort of covered up for my weaknesses and complemented me really well. I just loved being around him. Thrilled for him. It’s a great opportunity.”

• Rookie forward Keegan Murray could be moved into the starting lineup soon, perhaps as soon as this week, via Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee. Murray would likely replace Harrison Barnes, who has not played up to par early.

Timberwolves

Coach Chris Finch said the Timberwolves will continue to feature a variety of lineups, that nothing is set in stone, particularly in the fourth quarter.

“At this point in time everything’s pretty fluid,’ Finch said, via Chris Hine of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “That’s one. Two is we have a lot of depth. We have a lot of guys that can play and help us in different ways. So we’re not set in anything right now.

“We’re going to continue to work through those situations until we feel like we have combinations of guys that we like rather than a whole lineup.”

• The Timberwolves have held talks on contract extensions with both center/forward Naz Reid and guard/forward Jaylen Nowell, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Clippers

Coach Tyronn Lue and forward Paul George indicated the Clippers still have some work to do after a loss to the Suns on Sunday.

“Phoenix is a better team than we are right now. We’ll be better though,” Lue said, via Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic.

George expressed similar sentiments.

“I thought we were bad on the ball, bad off the ball,” he said, via Rankin. “It’s a good team. Phoenix has been together. They’re a decent team.”