The Houston Rockets and forward A.J. Griffin have agreed to a buyout, per the Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan Feigen.
Griffin, the 16th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft, was set to enter the third year of his four-year, $17.1 million contract. The buyout is worth $250,000, according to Feigen.
The Rockets waiving Griffin comes as the young player questioned his future in the NBA. The Athletic’s Kelly Iko and Shams Charania reported that Griffin is stepping away from basketball and in doing so is “giving up a significant portion of the $3.9 million he was owed for the upcoming 2024-25 season, per a team source.”
Charania reported earlier this month that Griffin was “seriously considering” stepping away from basketball and that he and the Rockets were “preparing for his departure from the game.”
Griffin appeared in five games for the Rockets during Summer League this year and also took part in voluntary workouts, but Iko and Charania report that “as training camp edged closer, Griffin’s appearances — and communication with the organization — diminished.”
Iko and Charania added that the the Rockets “understand that his personal life takes priority and have offered their support.”
Houston “has no immediate plans to fill the roster spot” and “will remain flexible and patient on the market,” per Iko and Charania.
There were plenty of expectations for Griffin coming into the NBA after the Atlanta Hawks used a first-round pick on him.
A 5-star prospect coming out of high school, according to 247Sports, Griffin put up 10.4 points and 3.9 boards on a talented Duke team in his sole season with the Blue Devils, earning an ACC All-Freshman bid and showing flashes of NBA talent.
Griffin had a promising rookie year, averaging 8.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and an assist per game while playing 19.5 minutes per contest for the Hawks. He shot 46.5 percent from the field and 39 percent from deep during his rookie season.
He played a much smaller role for the Hawks in Year 2, appearing in just 20 games and averaging 2.4 points and 0.9 rebounds in his limited action. He also spent a brief period in the G League with the College Park Skyhawks, putting up 14.2 points and 4.3 boards in six games.
The Hawks traded Griffin to Houston in a three-team trade also involving the Miami Heat after selecting Zaccharie Risacher with the first pick in the 2024 NBA draft. While the Rockets hoped to add the 21-year-old to a young core on the brink of being a playoff team, they won’t get the chance to do so as it seems he’s leaning towards stepping away from basketball, either temporarily or permanently.
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