AJ

Griffin

There had been rumblings recently that Griffin, the 16th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, was unsure if he wanted to continue his NBA career. On Friday, he and the Rockets agreed on a contract buyout, and Griffin is now evaluating his next steps as a professional. Hopefully, Griffin will find some peace, regardless of his final decision. He missed some time last season for personal reasons, and the Rockets acquired Griffin from the Rockets in June.

After shooting poorly in his first two appearances for Houston this summer, Griffin has been much better over their last two. The sharpshooter is looking to get his career back on the right track after a lost season in Atlanta, and this summer has been a great opportunity for him to showcase his talent. It will be difficult for him to carve out a role on a deep Houston squad this season, but he is still worth stashing in dynasty formats.

Griffin’s contract for the 2024-25 season is guaranteed, and the change of scenery allows him to show what he can do for a new franchise. The issue for him is Houston’s depth on the wings. In addition to having Dillon Brooks and Amen Thompson, Tari Eason and Cam Whitmore will factor into the competition for minutes once training camp begins in September. However, more critical for Griffin is taking advantage of the opportunity he has in summer league.

Both wings will suit up for the Rockets this summer. Whitmore had a strong rookie season, but the extra reps will still help. Griffin barely suited up for Atlanta last season, so getting time on the court will be good for him as he adjusts to a new team. Alongside Reed Sheppard, they will have a talented squad in Vegas.

The 16th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft logged nearly 20 minutes per game as a rookie, but his playing time was cut by more than half in Year 2. Griffin will have a tough time finding minutes in Houston’s rotation, and he’s off the radar in redraft fantasy hoops leagues.

Capela being upgraded to available is surprising, as the Hawks are locked into their seed for next week’s Play-In tournament. He’s available; it’s anyone’s guess how much he’ll play. As for Griffin, his return will not impact fantasy basketball, as his minutes should be limited.

Murray’s status is far more impactful to the Hawks’ rotation and active fantasy leagues, as he’s firmly entrenched in the starting lineup when healthy. Once Murray is cleared, Garrison Mathews is likely headed to the bench, as the Hawks remain without Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu. As for Griffin, his availability does not impact fantasy basketball or Atlanta’s rotation.

Griffin injured his ankle while playing for the Hawks’ G League affiliate, with the time off stunting the second-year wing’s on-court growth. He will be re-evaluated in 7-10 days, but Griffin’s status will not impact fantasy basketball or the Hawks’ rotation. If anything, this is a situation for dynasty league managers to track ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.

Johnson will join Kobe Bufkin and AJ Griffin on the sidelines for at least seven more days, as both Bufkin and Griffin will be re-evaluated in 7-10 days. Bufkin’s and Griffin’s absences won’t cause too much stress to fantasy managers, but the loss of Johnson is significant. In his place, De’Andre Hunter could slot into the starting five, while Bruno Fernando could see some extra playing time off the bench.

The continued absences of Bufkin and Griffin will not significantly impact fantasy basketball, as neither was guaranteed consistent rotation minutes when healthy. Trent Forrest will continue to handle the backup point guard duties and is not worth rostering in most fantasy leagues.