http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/2178576 Griffin a no-show Rockets forward Eddie Griffin did it again. The Rockets scheduled a workout for Griffin on Friday in Houston as part of the process to work his way back from an indefinite suspension. Griffin stood them up. "He didn't show up," Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson said. "We afforded him that opportunity. I found out on my way here (to San Antonio) and haven't found out the details. I'll try to find out why tomorrow." Griffin, 21, the youngest player on the team, was given a two-game suspension for skipping a trip to Sacramento. After meeting with Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy, Griffin did not show up for next day's practice, earning an "indefinite suspension for conduct detrimental to the team." Van Gundy has not said what Griffin needs to do to have the suspension lifted, but Griffin is not permitted to attend games or practices. He was sent home from a practice last Saturday. Once again, Griffin's absence puts the Rockets in a bad position. They have until Friday to exercise their option on the fourth season of Griffin's contract. A decision not to extend the contract beyond its third season would diminish Griffin's trade value.
if griff doesnt want to play, get out of the damn league and off our team. griff is just a pain in the ass that needs to go away. what a bum.
Van Gundy has not said what Griffin needs to do to have the suspension lifted, but Griffin is not permitted to attend games or practices. He was sent home from a practice last Saturday. Interesting quote. So, he showed up to a practice on Saturday he wasn't supposed to attend but didn't show up to a scheduled workout just for him?
Whoever posted that quote from a friend saying Griffin wants out of the NBA, you are vindicated. This kind of behavior has no explanation other than deliberate career suicide. Many of us have seen it in people who were determined to get fired or dumped.
It's too bad that we aren't even going to be able to trade him for a bench player because of all this. 3 first round picks up in a puff of smoke (no pun intended).
I really wish we knew what the problem with eddie is, from what we know I really dont think Eddie wants to play Basketball anymore. Maybe all those of years with Eddie playing with 0 emotion were saying " I dont care" not just "this is who I am" Who knows but Eddie is not JVG's guy so honestly I think Eddie is running out of chances and this soap opera of Eddie Griffin will not have a happy ending
This is terrible for the Rockets but I'm also getting a bit worried about Eddie as a person. He is basically snubbing the idea of getting paid 2.5 mil this year and 3.9 mil next year to play basketball. Even if he doesn't like playing basketball, most people don't enjoy their jobs but very few people make millions of dollars doing that job they don't like. He must be a serious emotional wreck to be ready to throw that all away. I can understand how it has to be over-whelming to become the primary financial support of your entire family at the age of 19. It has to be stressful to have people trying to leech off of you left and right and it must be confusing trying to figure out who really cares about you and who is just using you. There are probably a million things he's going through and for the most part, they're the same things all young players have to go through. Eddie doesn't seem to be coping with those pressures though. I absolutely hate that he's putting the Rockets in this position. The franchise may lose out big if Eddie doesn't stick around and reach his potential because he's obviously already made his trade value plummet to the point I doubt we can get much for him. But again, I'm genuinely concerned about Eddie and his emotional health right now. It seems he's digging himself one hell of a hole. One he may never be able to climb out of.
How does suspension work? Does Eddie get paid or not? If not, then does he get to reclaim those lost wages when he comes off suspension? If he is not getting paid, and if he doesn't get to reclaim lost wages, then we should exercise his option and keep him suspended. We retain his rights and don't have to pay him. If he wants to get paid, he either comes to practice and works his way back to the team under JVG or we trade him for something of value. I don't see how we can lose under those circumstances. We just wait him out and don't let him rejoin the team until he has dedicated himself to playing the game the way JVG and this team needs him to play. The suspense should come to a head this next week with the deadline for extension approaching. Either he gets traded, dropped, or we extend him, or we just let him sit on the suspended list for the season.
He want himself to be traded, period. I guess he and his agent had worked this out. Boycott the boss, let the boss dump him. But he wil be in serious trouble for his reputation in NBA. Unless someone said is true, he want to quit.
IMO, this is all gotta be some kind of ploy to get traded and consequently get that fourth year option picked up by whatever team he ends up with. IMO, nobody rebounds and blocks shots like he does without having passion for the game. I don't buy this story that he wants to quit bball for one minute. Even though he's quiet, he was never really a slacker on the court or uninterested. He just couldn't consistently make shots in the paint b/c his slight frame couldn't take the contact. I always saw him putting forth effort in games and cheering his teammates. For whatever reason, he wants to be traded ASAP.
I've been a big fan of Eddie's in the past. I've always been excited about him because I felt he had vast potential, but going into the regular season, with his approach to the latter part of preseason, if he never plays another game for the Rox, that will be fine by me. I'm extremely disappointed with Eddie and how he's handled this situation. Whatever issues he's going through, he still could have the decency to let the team know what's up. He's hurting the team holding down a spot right now.
Very dissapointing. Jeff, could you please work with me to change my user name, as it is not true anymore?
Okay, when Mo went out with the Achilles injury, the league allowed the Rox a pretty hefty exception, which they used to sign Mark Jackson (C). That didn't pan out or what not, but if this keeps up, Griffin retires, gets cut, whatever...is there any chance Houston can get another cap exception like that to sign a player the likes of... Well, nevermind. This sucks.
haha...well yeah. THis is sad..because Eddie had a lot of potential to become a star...I was expecting him to be part of our future team along with Yao, Francis, Mobley, Nachbar, and Taylor....at least we still have Cato..I'm guessing we HAVE TO sign Braggs now...he's all that we've got left! Pretty disappointing. Did they have to announce all this and reveal this info to everyone? Doesn't matter...everyone around the NBA woulda found out somehow. I don't think we get an exception.
Well, whatever level of support I still had for Mr Griffin (he doesn't deserve his nickname anymore) has vanished. Finito...zilch...nada I backed him when everyone else was dumping onhim for his play lastseason, I just knew he would make it worth or while... I can publicly say it at this point... I Was Wrong... /Grabs Mr griffin's plate and tosses it in the fireplace You are dead to us. Please leave...quit, retire, do whatever it takes to void your contract so we dont have to pay it.
