The Phoenix Suns are trying to remain optimistic in light of the NBA's league-wide suspension.

For general manager James Jones, that means looking at the roster and gauging which players now have extra time to get healthy for the final stretch.

Jones said he is “excited” at the prospect of potential returns from the likes of Kelly Oubre Jr.–who had surgery on a torn meniscus on March 3–and Frank Kaminsky (via Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic):

“You try to make a positive out of a negative,” GM James Jones said. “It could end up being a really good thing for us and if that’s the case, I know our guys will be excited. I know our coaches, myself, I’ll be excited to have our team full strength or close to it, contending and playing in some meaningful games.”

The Suns will be hard-pressed to make the playoffs even if Oubre is able to recover in time.

Phoenix are six games back of the Memphis Grizzlies for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference with just 17 games remaining in the season.

Of course, getting everyone back for the stretch might be as much about building momentum for next year, as anything else.

Oubre has had the best year of his career this season, averaging 18.7 points and 6.4 rebounds in 56 games and giving the Suns a third scoring option alongside Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton.

The Suns already have their highest win total since the 2014-15 campaign. Jones hopes a strong finish to the regular season–if it resumes–will bring the fire out of his players as they look to prove they can contend in the West for years to come.