The Houston Rockets and ahead AJ Griffin have reached phrases on a contract buyout, per the Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan Feigen. Griffin, the sixteenth general choose within the 2022 NBA draft, was set to enter the third yr of his four-year, $17.1 million contract. The buyout is value $250,000, in line with Spotrac.
The previous first-round draft choose plans to step away from the sport whereas mulling whether or not to proceed his NBA profession, sources confirmed to ESPN and Bleacher Report on Friday.
Houston Rockets purchase out ahead A.J. Griffin as he mulls his NBA future https://t.co/zynkluKnrc by way of @houstonchron
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) September 20, 2024
The Athletic’s Kelly Iko and Shams Charania reported that AJ Griffin is stepping away from basketball and in doing so is “giving up a good portion of the $3.9 million he was owed for the upcoming 2024-25 season, per a staff supply.”
That is a part of the four-year, $17.1 million rookie-scale contract he signed with the Hawks in July 2022.
As a part of a three-team commerce in June, the Hawks despatched Griffin to Houston; Atlanta traded money to the Miami Warmth; the Rockets traded Pelle Larsson to Miami; and the Warmth dealt Nikola Djurisic to Atlanta. The Hawks additionally acquired a commerce exception.
AJ Griffin performed in 5 video games with the Houston Rockets throughout the NBA Summer time League this yr
Griffin appeared in 5 video games for the Rockets throughout Summer time League this yr and in addition participated in voluntary exercises. Nonetheless, Iko and Charania reported that “as coaching camp edged nearer, Griffin’s appearances — and communication with the group — diminished.”
Griffin and Houston had been “getting ready for his departure from the sport.” Iko and Charania added that the Rockets “perceive that his private life takes precedence and have supplied their assist.”
Moreover, Houston “has no speedy plans to fill the roster spot” and “will stay versatile and affected person in the marketplace,” per Iko and Charania.
AJ GRIFFIN pic.twitter.com/DJzUlJm7tR
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) November 8, 2022
The 6-foot-6 Griffin had a good rookie season with the Hawks. In 72 video games (12 begins) of the 2022-23 season, he averaged 8.9 factors, 2.1 rebounds, 1.0 help, and 19.5 minutes per contest
In Atlanta’s 117-98 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Nov. 7, 2022, AJ Griffin recorded a career-high 24 factors on 10-of-15 (66.7%) taking pictures from the ground and 2-of-6 (33.3%) from past the arc. The previous Duke star made each free throws as effectively.
However, in 20 video games off the bench final season, he averaged simply 2.4 factors and eight.6 minutes per contest whereas taking pictures 29% from the ground and 25.6% from 3-point vary.
