Suns say Paul in protocols, status for West finals unclear
Phoenix guard Chris Paul has entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols, the Suns said Wednesday, and it is unclear whether he’ll be available for the start of the Western Conference finals next week.
The Suns said Paul’s status will be evaluated again Saturday. The earliest possible start date for the West finals is Sunday; that series schedule is contingent on when the other West semifinal between Utah Jazz and the Clippers ends.
Paul has been vaccinated against COVID-19, said a person with knowledge of the situation, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of privacy concerns. And that may mean that Paul could be cleared to return more quickly than some who tested positive earlier this season before vaccines were readily available; it wasn’t uncommon for players who entered the protocols to miss two weeks or more.
“My faith isn’t going to waver now because we’ve had a few obstacles,” Suns coach Monty Williams said Wednesday. “We’ve had obstacles all season long and gotten through a lot of stuff. You look forward to these challenges, you embrace them and you move forward.”
Van Gundy out after 1 season
NEW ORLEANS » New Orleans basketball operations chief David Griffin paused several seconds to compose himself while explaining why Stan Van Gundy is out as coach less than nine months after he was hired to develop a young roster featuring budding superstar Zion Williamson.
“This was something that was very, very difficult,” Griffin said, adding that the need for a new coach “revealed itself over some very open, candid conversations with a really, really good man” during the past three weeks.
While the Pelicans missed the postseason after finishing 10 games below .500, Griffin insisted his team’s new coaching vacancy did not result from too few victories.
“This was wrought in our philosophical difference in the way we’re going to reach the next step in our development,” Griffin said. “We don’t have time to waste.”
Wizards fire Brooks
WASHINGTON » Russell Westbrook,
Bradley Beal and the Wizards will have another coach next season after general manager Tommy Sheppard decided the organization is better off moving on from coach Scott Brooks.
Washington made the playoffs three times under Brooks but has just one series victory to show for his five-year tenure. That postseason success came in his first season in 2016-17 with the Wizards.
The Wizards were eliminated in five games in the first round by the Sixers.
GM Nelson leaving Mavs
Dallas general manager Donnie Nelson, instrumental in the club’s acquisitions of Dirk Nowitzki and Luka Doncic, is leaving the organization after 24 seasons.
The Mavericks said the club and Nelson agreed to part ways, with owner Mark Cuban saying the 58-year-old son of former coach Don Nelson was “instrumental to our success and helped bring a championship to Dallas.”
Ball Rookie of the Year
CHARLOTTE, N.C. » LaMelo Ball thought he would become NBA Rookie of the Year long before he joined the league.
That belief became a reality as Ball’s versatility as a passer, scorer and rebounder earned the Charlotte Hornets point guard the honor despite missing 21 games with a fractured wrist.
Ball was the runaway winner, receiving 84 of the 99 first-place votes to beat out finalists Anthony Edwards from Minnesota and Tyrese Haliburton from Sacramento.