The Houston Rockets recognized a need for improved shooting this summer. Drafting Reed Sheppard with the third overall pick likely addressed that need significantly, as he was the standout shooter in this year’s class. However, the Rockets didn’t stop there. They managed to acquire AJ Griffin from the Atlanta Hawks for just a 44th overall pick.
Why did this happen?
Houston Rockets Embrace a Reclamation Project
Several factors probably led the Hawks to let go of Griffin. Firstly, his injury history is a major concern, as he only played 20 games in the 2023-24 season. This issue was already noted during his college career and has continued to be a problem.
Moreover, even when healthy, Griffin saw limited playing time under new Head Coach Quinn Snyder, averaging only 8.6 minutes per game compared to 19.5 minutes in his rookie year. This decrease in playtime impacted his performance, with his three-point shooting dropping from 39.0% in his rookie season to 25.6% as a sophomore.
Is Griffin a risky acquisition?
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It’s uncertain. However, Griffin was highly regarded as a potential lottery pick in 2022, and if it weren’t for his injury concerns, he likely would have been a top 10 selection. Finding such a player with the 44th pick is rare, making this gamble worthwhile for the Rockets.
Griffin had 2 years left on his contract:
24/25- $3.9M
25/26- $6M (team)- exercisable by 10/31/24
Houston is using the $4.5M trade exception created when Kevin Porter Jr. was sent to OKC. https://t.co/Ls5DkUffSz
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) June 27, 2024
Additionally, Houston was able to fit Griffin into the trade exception created by trading Kevin Porter Jr., making this move even more impressive. Acquiring value for Porter Jr. was a shrewd move by GM Rafael Stone.
Overall, this trade deserves high praise. Despite some concerns about a potential logjam of young talent, the Rockets have added a player with lottery-level talent at a minimal cost. This move is a clear A+ and reinforces the team’s shooting capabilities with Griffin’s potential to bounce back.
