As expectedThe Houston Rockets and AJ Griffin have agreed to terms in a buyout announced by the team.
The buyout is worth $250,000 and allows him “to sit out the season while he considers the continuation of his career, a person familiar with the deal said.” said Jonathan Fiegan of the Houston Chronicle.
Griffin, 21, the son of former NBA player and coach Adrian Griffin and the 16th overall pick out of Duke two years ago, has demanded that space away from the game. Griffin looked like a future NBA role player as a rookie, averaging 8.9 points per game and shooting 39 percent from three-point range for Atlanta. Last season, it was a different story for Griffin, who missed time early in the season for personal reasons and, when he returned, never cracked the rotation. Griffin averaged 2.4 points per game and shot 29 percent from three-point range while struggling defensively.
The Rockets management was reportedly intrigued by Griffin and his potential, and signed him this offseason in a three-team deal. Griffin played for the Rockets in the Las Vegas Summer League, averaging 11.6 points and 3 rebounds per game while shooting 28 percent from three-point range, disappointing numbers for a player with Griffin’s experience.
Griffin now has the space he needs to think about his future. Hopefully, he’ll find what he’s looking for, whether that includes basketball or not.
