Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets and forward A.J. Griffin have agreed to a buyout, per the Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen.

Griffin, the 16th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft, was set to enter the third year of his four-year, $17.1 million contract. The buyout is worth $250,000, according to Feigen.

The Rockets waiving Griffin comes as the young player questioned his future in the NBA. The Athletic's Kelly Iko and Shams Charania reported that Griffin is stepping away from basketball and in doing so is "giving up a significant portion of the $3.9 million he was owed for the upcoming 2024-25 season, per a team source."

Charania reported earlier this month that Griffin was "seriously considering" stepping away from basketball and that he and the Rockets were "preparing for his departure from the game."

Griffin appeared in five games for the Rockets during Summer League this year and also took part in voluntary workouts, but Iko and Charania report that "as training camp edged closer, Griffin's appearances — and communication with the organization — diminished."

Iko and Charania added that the the Rockets "understand that his personal life takes priority and have offered their support."

Houston "has no immediate plans to fill the roster spot" and "will remain flexible and patient on the market," per Iko and Charania.

There were plenty of expectations for Griffin coming into the NBA after the Atlanta Hawks used a first-round pick on him.

A 5-star prospect coming out of high school, according to 247Sports, Griffin put up 10.4 points and 3.9 boards on a talented Duke team in his sole season with the Blue Devils, earning an ACC All-Freshman bid and showing flashes of NBA talent.

Griffin had a promising rookie year, averaging 8.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and an assist per game while playing 19.5 minutes per contest for the Hawks. He shot 46.5 percent from the field and 39 percent from deep during his rookie season.

He played a much smaller role for the Hawks in Year 2, appearing in just 20 games and averaging 2.4 points and 0.9 rebounds in his limited action. He also spent a brief period in the G League with the College Park Skyhawks, putting up 14.2 points and 4.3 boards in six games.

The Hawks traded Griffin to Houston in a three-team trade also involving the Miami Heat after selecting Zaccharie Risacher with the first pick in the 2024 NBA draft. While the Rockets hoped to add the 21-year-old to a young core on the brink of being a playoff team, they won't get the chance to do so as it seems he's leaning towards stepping away from basketball, either temporarily or permanently.

The 2024-25 season was going to be AJ Griffin's third in the NBA, but he reportedly may be done with his career.

Shams Charania and Kelly Iko of The Athletic reported Thursday the Houston Rockets forward is "seriously considering stepping away from basketball."

Houston acquired him via trade from the Atlanta Hawks this offseason, but Charania noted "sides are preparing for his departure from the game."

Expectations were high for Griffin when the Hawks selected him with the No. 16 overall pick of the 2022 NBA draft. After all, he was an ACC All-Freshman selection during his one season at Duke as someone who could stretch the floor or attack off the bounce as a matchup problem for opposing defenses.

He was a solid contributor in his rookie season, averaging 8.9 points and 2.1 rebounds while shooting 46.5 percent from the field and 39.0 percent from deep across 72 games and 12 starts.

However, Griffin's role was drastically reduced in his second season as he averaged 2.4 points and 0.9 rebounds across just 20 appearances.

Atlanta traded him to Houston as part of a three-team deal with the Miami Heat, and there was surely some hope he could rediscover his form and develop into a contributor for the Rockets. He is still just 21 years old and was joining a young core of players including Alperen Şengün, Jalen Green, Reed Sheppard and Jabari Smith Jr., among others.

Griffin's outside shooting could have played well in Houston when defenders collapsed on Şengün, Smith and Green, which would have created additional space.

Alas, the Rockets will not get the opportunity to see that play out if he ends up walking away from the game.

Former Houston Rockets general manager and assistant coach Carroll Dawson died Monday, the team announced. He was 86.

The team released the following statement:

"The Rockets family mourns the loss of beloved former coach and general manager, Carroll Dawson, affectionately known as 'CD.'

"For nearly three decades, CD was a cornerstone of our organization, instrumental in shaping the careers of stars like Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson. A proud Texas native, CD served as the only coach to be present for all four of Houston's NBA Finals appearances, including the back-to-back championship teams. As general manager, he brought iconic talents to Houston including Charles Barkley, Steve Francis, Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, while also assembling the four-time WNBA champion Houston Comets.

"While CD's contributions to basketball were remarkable, it was his character that truly stood out. We will deeply miss his uplifting spirit, infectious humor, and kind-hearted nature. We are proud that CD's legacy will forever be honored with his banner hanging from the rafters of Toyota Center, alongside our other Rockets legends."

A cause of death was not released publicly.

A number of tributes followed news of Carroll's death:

So sad to hear Carroll Dawson, CD as he was known, has died. One of Baylor’s most famous basketball players and coaches before joining Rockets as an assistant coach and GM. Also Comets’ GM when they won 4 WNBA titles. R.I.P. CD!

— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) September 9, 2024

I met Carroll Dawson when he was an assistant coach at Baylor and I was in junior school. He was one of the greatest story tellers ever. Such a great sense of humor. He had friends across the basketball world and will be missed by so many.

— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) September 9, 2024

Carroll Dawson was a delightful human being and terrific basketball guy. Rudy T's right-hand man and then some in the Rockets' glory years.
Rest in peace "C.D."

— Charlie Pallilo (@Pallilo) September 9, 2024

"It wouldn't have happened without him," former Rockets head coach Rudy Tomjanovich told Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. "The success wouldn't have happened without him. People don't understand how important he was to all of us."

"He was an amazing man," he added. "Life is interesting. You run into people. Sometimes there is chemistry that clicks. I was a city guy from up north. He was a guy from the country. He blessed my life so greatly. Yesterday, when I heard things were getting close, so many memories went through my head. I was thinking how fortunate I was to have him in my life."

Carroll played for Baylor during his college career and later served as the head coach there from 1973 to '77 seasons. He then served as the Rockets' assistant head coach from 1980 to '96 before moving to a position in the front office. He served as general manager until 2007, when he brought on Daryl Morey to serve as his successor.

Phase two of the Houston Rockets' rebuild paid off, though not quite to the extent they were hoping for.

After signing Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks in free agency last offseason, the Rockets improved their win total by 19 games from the 2022-23 season with a 41-41 record. A five-game losing streak late in the season pushed the team out of the play-in picture.

Houston was often mentioned in trade rumors this summer, but ultimately had a quiet offseason. The team did add Reed Sheppard with the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NBA draft with the hope he can boost their three-point shooting as a rookie.

Head coach Ime Udoka helped establish a strong defensive identity in his first season with the club. The Rockets ranked ninth in defensive rating, their first time in the top 10 since 2017-18.

While much of the focus going into last season was on VanVleet and Brooks, the most encouraging performances for the Rockets were from Alperen Şengün, Jabari Smith Jr. and Jalen Green. Şengün and Green were the top two scorers on the team, with Şengün and Smith finishing first and second in rebounds.

If Sheppard can step in and elevate the Rockets' three-point shooting after they tied for 23rd in success rate (35.2 percent), they have the makings of a playoff contender in a loaded Western Conference.

2024-25 Rockets Schedule Details

Season Opener: vs. Charlotte Hornets, Oct. 23, 8 p.m. ET

Championship Odds: +8000 (bet $100 to win $8,000), per FanDuel

Full Schedule: The full schedule is available on NBA.com.

Top Matchups

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Rockets are still in the process of building a team that can compete for a title, so what better way to evaluate how far along they are than by judging them against arguably the best team in the NBA?

If you're just looking at teams on paper, it's hard not to think the Oklahoma City Thunder are the top team in the Western Conference. They were the No. 1 seed in the playoffs last season and likely got better by signing Isaiah Hartenstein to play center and acquiring Alex Caruso from the Chicago Bulls to take Josh Giddey's spot.

Houston and Oklahoma City split four meetings last season, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn't play in the final game on March 27. The Rockets won that matchup 132-126 when they were in the midst of an 11-game winning streak.

Oklahoma City's 115.5 points per game was the fourth-best scoring average of any Western Conference team against the Rockets. The only teams ahead of the Thunder were the Dallas Mavericks (122.3), Golden State Warriors (120.0) and Utah Jazz (117.3).

Udoka will certainly use his experience from those games in an attempt to improve those numbers when the Rockets take on the Thunder.

It would be a huge surprise if the Rockets end up finishing ahead of Oklahoma City by the end of the season, but the head-to-head matchups will determine how far along in the process of becoming a playoff contender they really are.

Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles attempted to make a splash in free agency by going after Klay Thompson before he decided to join the Dallas Mavericks. Once that pursuit failed, the Lakers basically just ran things back with the group they had last season.

The biggest change made by the Lakers was the hiring of head coach JJ Redick. He has a huge task ahead of him navigating the spotlight of coaching the most noteworthy team in the league and biggest star in the sport.

Speaking of the biggest star in the sport, the primary reason to focus on a Rockets-Lakers game is because of what happens when Brooks shares the court with LeBron James. It's not only relegated to NBA games because Brooks tried getting in James' head during a Canada-Team USA game leading up to the Olympics.

LeBron James and Dillon Brooks already getting chippy 👀 pic.twitter.com/VpPNjVThSF

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 11, 2024

It's not hard to envision a scenario in which the Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers are competing against each other for seeding in the Western Conference.

The Rockets got within 2.5 games of the Lakers during their 11-game winning streak in March. Los Angeles closed the season by winning five of its final seven games to secure the No. 8 seed and a spot in the play-in tournament. Houston lost six of its final nine games.

These two teams weren't far apart in the final standings last season. There's nothing to indicate they won't be fighting for position in the Western Conference once again.

Season Forecast

It feels like the Rockets' season is going to be determined by how much progress Şengün makes on the defensive end of the court.

For all of his improvements as an offensive player last season, Şengün remains a liability on defense. He drew the ire of Udoka at times last season for his negative impact as a defender.

There are so many high-level defensive players in place for the Rockets, but Şengün is the last line to the basket. If he can get closer to being just average on that end of the floor, Houston could make a significant leap up the standings.

Sheppard's ability to make an impact as a rookie will also go a long way toward solving another big problem the team had last season. He certainly lived up to his reputation during the summer league season.

3rd overall pick Reed Sheppard through 3 #NBA2KSummerLeague games:

🔥 20.0 PPG
🔥 4.7 APG
🔥 4.7 RPG
🔥 3.0 SPG
🔥 49.0 FG%

Listen to the @HoustonRockets' rookie mic'd up vs. the Wizards! pic.twitter.com/HprIXFbqlH

— NBA (@NBA) July 16, 2024

The Rockets had a top-10 defense even with Şengün's issues, but they ranked in the bottom half of the league in points per game and offensive rating.

There's plenty of room for growth on offense thanks to the drafting of Sheppard, along with the continued development of Green and Smith.

The ceiling for Houston is very high if everything goes right for at least two of the three young players on the roster. The competition in the Western Conference is extremely intense, so the most likely outcome for the Rockets is slightly better than what they did last season.

Record Prediction: 43-39

The impressive showcase by Houston Rockets rookie Reed Sheppard during Summer League has some around the NBA believing he's set for a big year in his first season.

ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo polled a group of league executives on who will be this season's Rookie of the Year, and Sheppard beat out the rest of the field with seven votes. It was noted that the former Kentucky sharpshooter was "likely also a beneficiary of summer league bias."

In four Summer League games, Sheppard averaged 20.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.8 steals while shooting 50.0 percent from the field. The 2024 No. 3 pick established himself as an early contender for the biggest steal of the draft.

Sheppard is joining a talented Rockets backcourt that includes Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green, but he will likely still have the opportunity to be a key contributor. Givony and Woo pointed out that "there's an increasing notion that the Rockets will have to find him the level of playing time necessary to contend for NBA Rookie of the Year."

The rest of the poll produced some interesting results, as Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey finished second behind Sheppard with four votes. 2024 No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher of the Atlanta Hawks earned just one vote, and No. 2 pick Alex Sarr of the Washington Wizards didn't receive any votes.

Execs highlighted Edey because he will likely have the opportunity to see immediate playing time and a major role in Memphis.

"I was at the Utah Summer League and was so impressed by how much [Edey's] game translates," one voter said. "He's in incredible shape and is going to be such a weapon in pick-and-roll with NBA spacing with the way he catches and finishes. He's way more athletic than people realize, and his sheer will is going to get him a bunch of 20-plus-10 outings before New Year's, is my prediction. There's not really another true center on the Grizzlies roster to compete with him for playing time."

Alperen Şengün of the Houston Rockets is one of the more promising young big men in the NBA, and multiple teams were reportedly quite interested in trading for the 22-year-old.

"When there was even a whiff of Şengün's availability on the market, and I don't know if he was ever really available at all, but there was some teams that were really, really interested to get into that bidding," ESPN's Zach Lowe said on Friday's episode of his podcast (21:56 mark).

Unfortunately for other teams around the league, it doesn't seem like the Rockets will be moving him.

"We get calls on all our young guys. We have no interest in moving him," Houston general manager Rafael Stone said of Şengün during an appearance on Sirius XM radio (h/t Rahat Huq of Forbes).

For now, the big man is scheduled for restricted free agency after the 2024-25 campaign, but he said during an appearance on Turkish television that he wants to remain with the Rockets (h/t Michael Shapiro of the Houston Chronicle).

"I want to sign, of course, because when you do, you have peace of mind," Şengün said. "You secure your future, and you don't have to worry anymore. You don't have the fear of getting injured."

Şengün suffered one of those injuries last season to his ankle and knee and did not play after Match 10.

Still, he impressed on his way to per-game averages of 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.2 steals while shooting 53.7 percent from the field and 29.7 percent from deep. It was a breakout performance for the 2021 first-round draft pick and seemed to signal his arrival as an impact big for years to come.

Given his age, production and overall potential, it comes as no surprise that the Rockets don't want to move him and other teams are interested in acquiring him.

For now, though, he will look to help Houston make the playoffs for the first time since the 2019-20 campaign.

Houston Rockets rookie Reed Sheppard is a "higher-upside player" than Jalen Green in the view of The Athletic's Sam Vecenie.

"That's no shot at Jalen Green, I just think Reed's passing and playmaking, and feel, are just worlds ahead of where Jalen Green is," Vecenie said on his Game Theory podcast (via Ben DuBose of Rockets Wire). "Jalen has all the athleticism and separation ability, and all that stuff… but the ability to make plays for your teammates and be an unselfish player, I don't know."

Green, the No. 2 pick in the 2021 NBA draft, has had an inconsistent first three seasons. He averaged 19.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game during the 2023-24 campaign.

While those are solid numbers, Green saw his scoring dip from the 2022-23 season and has not made any major strides with his efficiency. He's shot between 41.7 percent and 42.6 percent in each of his three seasons. His only area of any noticeable improvement has been rebounding, which shot up to 5.2 boards per game last season after being under four his first two seasons.

Add in consistent defensive issues, and Green has been a difficult player to peg in terms of his ceiling and how much he's worth to Houston as he heads for restricted free agency in 2025.

Sheppard's arrival only muddied the waters because Houston has thrown another young guard into the mix.

As a freshman at Kentucky, he averaged 12.5 points and 4.5 assists while knocking down more than half (52.1 percent) of his threes. Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman wrote Sheppard can be, at worst, "a connector who's valued for spot-up shooting and passing" with the potential to operate as a lead guard if he shows the athleticism to score off the dribble.

The Rockets will eventually reach a critical juncture with Green. They'll either have to extend him or trade him and what they decide may come in part down to how Sheppard performs in his rookie season.

It has only taken Houston Rockets rookie Reed Sheppard three Summer League games to catch the attention of NBA higher-ups.

"Reed Sheppard, for example, has blown me away with his feel for the game and confidence," one NBA executive told ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Ohm Youngmisuk. "These guys are different players now than they were in March. Their bodies have gotten better. They are more explosive. And they've all been working on their game like crazy.

"This is going to be a fun group to follow... We're already seeing some real steals emerge here in Vegas."

Sheppard, who was selected No. 3 in the 2024 draft in part due to his strong shooting at Kentucky, has proved his accuracy can translate to the Summer League by averaging 20.0 points per game on 49.0 percent shooting from the field through three games in Las Vegas.

3rd overall pick Reed Sheppard through 3 #NBA2KSummerLeague games:

🔥 20.0 PPG
🔥 4.7 APG
🔥 4.7 RPG
🔥 3.0 SPG
🔥 49.0 FG%

Listen to the @HoustonRockets' rookie mic'd up vs. the Wizards! pic.twitter.com/HprIXFbqlH

— NBA (@NBA) July 16, 2024

The Kentucky product impressed against the Los Angeles Lakers in his Summer League debut last Friday by scoring 21 points on 9-of-17 shooting while adding five assists, three blocks and a steal.

Sheppard again shone on Sunday against the Washington Wizards, scoring 22 points on 9-of-15 shooting while adding six rebounds, seven assists, five steals and a block.

The former Kentucky standout's shooting dipped to 6-of-17 during his most recent Summer League outing, a Monday game against the Detroit Pistons, but he still contributed 15 points, four rebounds and three steals.

Sheppard's campaign to earn minutes at point guard as a rookie will continue Thursday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Although Fred VanVleet will likely head into the fall as the starter, Sheppard's standout performance in Las Vegas could get him playing time as a primary backcourt option off the bench.

Houston Rockets rookie Reed Sheppard shone Sunday night during a 109-91 Summer League victory over Alex Sarr and the Washington Wizards in Las Vegas.

Sheppard, the No. 3 pick of the 2024 draft, even managed to impress three-time All-Star point guard Trae Young as he faced off against No. 2 pick Sarr for the first time.

Reed Sheppard nice y’all !!

— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) July 14, 2024

Here are some of the hottest takes of the night following the Rockets' Summer League win.

---

No. 3 pick Sheppard earns hype as projected undersized NBA point guard

Reed Sheppard dominated in the first half, putting up 11 points on 4-for-5 shooting from the field while adding three rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Sheppard finished the outing with 22 points, six rebounds, seven assists and five steals.

3rd overall pick Reed Sheppard picking a pocket and dunking a basketball! 😅

📺#NBA2KSummerLegaue on ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/tyB4ol11Ur

— NBA (@NBA) July 14, 2024

The No. 3 pick of the 2024 draft also shot 9-for-15 from the field and 1-for-5 from deep.

That stat line impressed fans looking for proof that a player who measured in at 6'1.75" without shoes at the combine could succeed in the NBA.

Reed Sheppard is clearly undersized, but he has all the aspects to his game that you need to have to neutralize it. The active hands, the crab dribble, the pull up middy, all of it.

Student of the Chris Paul school of undersized point guards.

— ᵂᴵᴸᴸ (@BiasedHouston) July 14, 2024

Reed Sheppard is Steve Nash that’s crazy

— Chad (@chad_dior) July 14, 2024

6’3 reed sheppard got more rebounds than 7’1 alex sarr pic.twitter.com/CaPcYkL1Xb

— 😑 (@00selm) July 14, 2024

Reed Sheppard gonna be a great starting PG for the Rockets

— Sean (@IDontSingh1) July 14, 2024

Reed Sheppard is bringing the true point guard back to the league. These passes are so on point it’s ridiculous

— therealtysmall (@TySmall13) July 14, 2024

Has anyone ever won rookie of the year and 6th man of the year? If not Reed Sheppard might be that guy.

— Janson Hoskins (@JZHoskins) July 14, 2024

Sheppard climbed draft rankings after shooting 52.1 percent from behind the arc during his freshman college season, but will have to compete for playing time in Houston guards like Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet.

Some fans believed Sheppard's Summer League performance proved he deserved playing time despite the crowded depth chart:

Reed Sheppard and Cam Whitmore are too good for summer league

— William Lou (@william_lou) July 14, 2024

https://twitter.com/EDDIE4PF/status/1812619690319257762

It took 2 Summer League games for everyone to realize Reed Sheppard is next up

— Eric (@PointGods) July 14, 2024

Sheppard's Summer League journey will continue Monday as the Rockets take on Ron Holland II and the Detroit Pistons.

---

Fans hope to see No. 2 pick Sarr develop in Summer League

Sarr started off the game strong with a pull-up jumper in the first quarter.

2nd overall pick Alex Sarr sinks the smooth pullup J!

📺 #NBA2KSummerLeague on ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/OSc65KY7EL

— NBA (@NBA) July 14, 2024

Sarr provided limited offense as the game went on, however.

The No. 2 pick of the 2024 NBA Draft finished the outing with eight points, four rebounds and two assists in 29 minutes. He shot 4-for-14 from the field and 0-for-5 from deep.

Sarr's limited offense led some fans to believe the Australian league standout will need to continue developing some aspects of his game before he can succeed as an NBA big.

Alex Sarr is a true offensive project. There’s a large number of shots that he can get to and a number of ways to utilize him, the challenge with him is just finding his spots and being polished in them. The offensive upside is 100% there though

— therealtysmall (@TySmall13) July 14, 2024

Sarr definitely needs to work on his strength. Getting bodied right now. Will get stronger as the season goes on

— DJ (@TheRealDeejayyy) July 14, 2024

https://twitter.com/WillCIayton/status/1812634968738107402

Sarr is definitely a 4 until further notice lol

— Dialante (@Deetalksalot) July 14, 2024

The 7-foot-0 center at times struggled to defend Sheppard and Whitmore in the loss, but still showed flashes of the defensive control that took him to the top of the 2024 draft.

Alex Sarr’s offensive game needs work post play, shot selection etc. but the defense is there he’s gonna win Defensive Player of the Year in the future

— Cameron Mingo (@CamMingo) July 14, 2024

Sarr comes out and the paint defense is just night & day lol

— Earl Manigault (@RaunchyBillups) July 14, 2024

Sarr and the Wizards are back in action Tuesday for a game against Donovan Clingan and the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Houston Rockets are reportedly unlikely to offer guard Jalen Green or center Alperen Şengün max contract extensions before the start of the 2024-25 season.

Kelly Iko of The Athletic reported the Rockets plan to continue discussing deals with the budding young stars but are hesitant to offer them max extensions. Green and Şengün will hit restricted free agency next summer if they do not have an agreement in place before the start of next season.

Houston has built a promising young core, but it's soon set to become an expensive one. Green and Şengün are eligible for contract extensions this summer, and Jabari Smith Jr. will be eligible next.

Houston has a clean long-term cap sheet—Dillon Brooks is the only veteran with a contract guaranteed for the 2025-26 season—but the front office faces a difficult decision on how much to spend to retain its young talent. Green, Şengün and Smith have all shown levels of promise early in their NBA careers, but none have developed into surefire superstars.

Şengün has established himself as the cream of the crop after a breakout 2023-24 saw him average 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists at age 21. The big man has all the hallmarks of an offensive force for years to come; he's already a store-brand Nikola Jokić and should make All-Star teams in the future.

It's frankly a bit of a surprise that Şengün isn't already locked up to a long-term deal.

Green's ceiling is undeniable, but we're three years into his NBA career without him showing any marked improvement. His excellent rookie season has been followed by two seasons where he's plateaued in every major category, and the NBA has plenty of inconsistent volume scorers on contracts much cheaper than the max.

Waiting to offer Green an extension is the prudent move, and one could argue the Rockets should explore trading him now while teams still believe in his potential.