One week after a report emerged that third-year forward AJ Griffin was considering stepping away from the NBA, the Rockets agreed to buy out Griffin's contract, as first reported by Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. Griffin is the son of former NBA forward and coach Adrian Griffin.
The agreement allows the 21-year-old to sit out the 2024-25 season while considering whether to continue his career. The buyout was for $250,000, Feigen added, citing a source with knowledge.
With the buyout, the Rockets now have an open roster spot in the final days before NBA training camps officially open on Tuesday, Oct. 1. Time will tell as to how they choose to fill it.
As for Griffin, a Duke product who was drafted at No. 16 overall in the 2022 first round, it's the latest chapter in an unusual professional career.
After an encouraging rookie season (2022-23) in which Griffin averaged 8.9 points (39.0% on 3-pointers) for the Hawks in 19.5 minutes, he played in only 20 games as an NBA sophomore (at just 8.6 minutes per game) while dealing with on-court struggles and off-court tragedy. He missed several weeks for personal reasons.
In June, Houston acquired Griffin from Atlanta at a minimal cost as something of a reclamation project. But the former Duke product -- drafted at No. 16 overall in the 2022 first round -- largely struggled with the 2024 summer-league Rockets.
Griffin had been slated to make $3.9 million this season in the final guaranteed season of his rookie-scale contract (the fourth was a team option). He was not expected to feature in the initial 2024-25 playing rotation for Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, whose more established forward options include Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, Amen Thompson, Jae'Sean Tate, and Jeff Green.
Griffin could potentially have been in line to receive significant playing time with Houston's NBA G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Vipers, while attempting to work his way back into rookie-season form. However, it appears Griffin had other ideas.
More: Rockets, AJ Griffin reportedly preparing for his departure from NBA