Suns GM on Chris Paul entering COVID-19 protocols: ‘It’s unfortunate’

The Phoenix Suns have been presented their latest challenge in a season full of them with point guard Chris Paul out due to health and safety protocols after testing positive for COVID-19, per Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro.

Suns general manager James Jones joined Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo to discuss that challenge.

“For us, it’s unfortunate that it happened, that he had to enter protocols this week,” Jones said on Wednesday. “But like always, we started to reflect on what we’ve done so far this year and how our team has performed when our guys have been out. We’ve been relatively healthy, so we’ve been in a good space.

“Going forward, we’re just going to continue to do the things that we’ve done all year. Just focus on the next practice, try to get ourselves prepared to play and rely on the next man up.”

For now, it’s a matter of more information developing over the course of the next few days. The Suns said they will release their next update on Paul’s status Saturday, and Jones went over the thought on that.

“Saturday, we’ll know more about where he is in the protocols. I just felt like that would be a good date for us to revisit and see where we are,” he said. “If we play on Sunday, it would be the day before the game. If we play on Tuesday, that still gives us a couple days to prep and prepare for our next opponent.”

The Suns won’t know until Friday night what day they play, as that’ll be Game 6 between the Los Angeles Clippers and Utah Jazz in the Western Conference’s other semifinal series. If that result pushes the series to seven games, the Suns will get those extra two days. If not, the Western Conference Finals begin on Sunday.

Either way and however the rest of the week unfolds, Jones is confident in his team.

“This team is in a good spot,” he said. “I think Monty said it earlier, we’re gonna focus and worry about those decisions when they get closer but with Devin (Booker), with Jae (Crowder) and Mikal (Bridges), Cam Payne, with those guys playing well, I feel good that whoever we play and whenever we play, you’ll see the Suns play our brand of basketball, be competitive and put ourselves in a position to win games.”

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