NBA
Chicago Bulls' Derrick Jones JR. placed on covid-19 list
The Bulls roster has decimated by injury and covid-19 alike forcing them to sign additional players.
The Chicago Bulls are in the midst of a worsening covid-19 outbreak.
Bulls' Derrick Jones placed on covid-19 list
On Thursday it was reported that Chicago Bulls forward Derrick Jones Jr. had entered the NBA's health and safety protocols. With that, Jones is now the fifth Bulls player sidelined during what can now only be considered a team wide covid-19 outbreak. Jones joins DeMar DeRozan, Matt Thomas, Coby White and Javonte Green - all within the last nine days - as he himself must now face the league's protocols. It is understood that White and Green are the only two positive cases confirmed by the team. Once a positive test is returned, players must remain in isolation for a minimum of 10 days or until they return two negative PCR tests within a 24-hour period.
Unfortunately for the Bulls, their roster worries don't stop there as they are also currently without forward Patrick Williams through a wrist injury and guard Alex Caruso who is battling hamstring issues. Interestingly the Bulls have been categorized as eligible to sign a 16th player through the NBA's hardship exception.
How are the Chicago Bulls coping?
On Thursday the Bulls gave a statement to the effect that they had acquired guard Stanley Johnson on a 10-day contract. Johnson, who was with the Bulls during training camp, is set to join the team in Miami ahead of their game against the Heat on Saturday. Additionally it was reported by ESPN that Chicago will also be allowed to sign another player through the exception due to Jones' positive test.
Coach Billy Donovan was positive though conscious of the challenges of the situation, citing the possibility of Caruson returning for Saturday's game. Following their date with the Heat the Bulls don't play again until Tuesday and then subsequently only four games in the following 10 days. In addition the Bulls have also taken other steps to reduce the possibility of transmission such as multiple tests per day as well as an alteration of the shoot around schedules. The Bulls coach believes they can still in fact avoid the possibility of postponed games.
Speaking earlier in the week he said, "I have not heard anything along those lines. I think the biggest question that comes up is if you have something that runs through a team and you have multiple players that are not able to compete, is there enough players for the team to go out there and function. I do think the most important thing for our league is the health and safety of all the players. I think our guys have done a good job of following and doing what we're asked to be done from the league and from the medical side. It's just, I think, this time of year. There's certainly been a spike in this, but I have not heard anything as it relates to them going into a situation of shutting down the league for a period of time. I have not heard that."