The Houston Rockets have reached an agreement to buy out forward AJ Griffin, according to sources cited by Shams Charania of The Athletic. Griffin, 21, is anticipated to step away from basketball, as noted by Charania.
The buyout, valued at $250,000, was reported by Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. This decision opens up a roster spot for the Rockets.
Griffin was selected 16th overall in the 2022 NBA Draft. Over two seasons, he averaged 7.5 points per game while shooting 37.2% from three-point range in 92 games with the Atlanta Hawks. After a strong freshman year, Griffin’s production significantly decreased in his second season, where he appeared in only 20 games and averaged 2.4 points per game with a shooting percentage of 25.6% from beyond the arc.
The former Duke Blue Devil was acquired by the Rockets in a three-team trade this offseason. He participated in five games for Houston’s Summer League team, averaging 11.6 points and three rebounds.
