Warriors cautiously optimistic about Steve Kerr’s return

CHICAGO — Luke Walton is careful not to anticipate the exact return date for Steve Kerr, but the Warriors’ interim head coach is hopeful that the head man will be back on the bench soon.

Besides not being the coach on the bench during games, he’s very much involved in the decisions and the prep work.

Kerr started a leave of absence Oct. 1 in an effort to recover from a spinal-fluid leak caused by an offseason back surgery.

“I hope (Kerr returns) soon, but (the rest of the coaching staff) has to keep preparing like it’s not going to happen — just so that we keep doing our jobs,” Walton said.

Point guard Stephen Curry is a lock to start next month’s All-Star Game in Toronto, but the Warriors won’t find out if they will have two players among the Western Conference’s starting five until the results of fan voting are announced Thursday.

In the balloting released by the NBA last Thursday, power forward Draymond Green had a slight edge over San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard for the West’s third frontcourt spot.