NBA notebook: Draft prospect Huerter has hand surgery

The 6-foot-7 Maryland product is projected as a sure first-round draft pick.
His stock was rising during workouts last month, with some prognosticators
viewing him as having played his way into a possible lottery pick. He is
expected to be sidelined two months.

Huerter averaged 14.8 points and 3.4 assists per game last season as a
sophomore for the Terrapins. He made a team-leading 73 3-pointers, and his 138
career threes ranks 12th in school history.

--Dallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea was named winner of the J. Walter Kennedy
Citizenship Award, an honor given to a player, coach or athletic trainer who
displays outstanding service and dedication to the community.

Barea was one of five finalists in balloting conducted by more than 200
members of the Professional Basketball Writers Association. The 12-year NBA
veteran participated in disaster relief efforts for his native Puerto Rico in
the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. His parents and other relatives live in
Puerto Rico, which was devastated by the September storm.

Barea coordinated five trips to Puerto Rico to deliver food, water, medical
supplies, generators and other supplies. He also raised approximately $770,000
in cash and worked with the Mavericks to donate all single-game ticket sales
revenue -- which came out to $114,000 -- from an Oct. 25 game against the
Memphis Grizzlies.

--The Los Angeles Lakers have asked Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma to tone down
their public barbs posted to social media, according to a report from ESPN.

The Lakers spoke with both players after Ball released a rap diss track titled
"Kylie Kuzma" that offered some very personal jabs directed at Kuzma. The rap
song is the latest in an escalating series of public jokes the two teammates
and close friends have hurled at each other.

In a February interview with ESPN, both Ball and Kuzma said that their public
taunts were good-natured and that neither of them took the insults personally.

--The Philadelphia 76ers picked up the fourth-year contract options for guard
T.J. McConnell and forward Richaun Holmes, guaranteeing both will be under
contract through the 2018-19 season.

McConnell was an undrafted free agent who signed with the 76ers in September
2015. Holmes was drafted 37th overall in the 2015 NBA Draft.

--Field Level Media