Rockets Release Eddie Griffin Dec. 19, 2003 - The Houston Rockets have released forward Eddie Griffin, general manager Carroll Dawson announced today. Griffin, who averaged 8.0 points and 8.0 rebounds in three preseason games this year, was suspended indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the team on Oct. 16 and placed on the suspended list on Oct. 27. “This has been very disappointing for our franchise,” said Dawson. “We had high hopes for Eddie and still feel that he has the ability to be a very good player in this league if he gets his personal issues resolved. However, there are times when you have to make difficult decisions like this because it is the right thing to do for all parties involved.” Griffin averaged 8.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.63 blocks in 150 career games with the Rockets. The 6-10, 232-pound forward ranks ninth in Rockets history in career blocked shots with 245 blocks in two seasons. Last season Griffin averaged 8.6 points, a career-high 6.0 rebounds and 1.44 blocks in 77 games, ranking third on the Rockets in rebounding average and second in blocked shots. In his first NBA season, he averaged a career-high 8.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and a team-leading and career-high 1.84 blocks to earn 2002 NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors. Griffin became the first rookie and just the sixth player in NBA history to average more than one blocked shot and one 3-pointer made per game in a season. Drafted by New Jersey with the seventh pick overall of the 2001 NBA Draft, Griffin was acquired by the Rockets for three draft picks on June 27, 2001. In his one season at Seton Hall, Griffin earned Honorable Mention All-America honors from The Associated Press and 2001 Big East Rookie of the Year recognition after leading Seton Hall with averages of 17.8 points, 10.8 rebounds and 4.4 blocks. Prior to college, Griffin earned Parade Magazine’s National Player of the Year award as a senior at Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia
The Rockets will release third-year forward Eddie Griffin as soon as today, severing ties with the 2001 first-round draft pick, several sources familiar with the situation said Thursday. The move will complete Griffin's fall from one of the coveted keys to the Rockets' rebuilding plans to a player they could not trade and would not keep. Unable to find an acceptable trade for Griffin, the Rockets likely have or will have to reach a settlement on the remainder of his contract. Griffin's contract was worth $2.3 million this season before the salary lost during his suspension. Rockets officials declined to comment. Griffin's agent Arn Tellem did not return calls. The Rockets had suspended Griffin, 21, without pay Oct. 16 after he skipped a team road trip and the next day's practice. Several weeks later, after Griffin continued to miss workouts, they declined their option to pick up a fourth season of his contract. "Things are fine now," Griffin said after meeting with Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy on Oct. 15. "I'm going to be back with the team." But he never was, and now never will be. Facing felony assault charges and a misdemeanor drug possession charge, Griffin was recently released from voluntary substance abuse and depression therapy. But a judge ordered a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, making him almost entirely unavailable to play for the Rockets. Teammates have said Griffin made great progress emotionally during his treatment. But several sources said he is far from in physical condition to play in the NBA or contribute to a team's practices. "He's in good spirits," Rockets guard Steve Francis said after visiting Griffin shortly before Griffin's release from therapy Dec. 10. "He's definitely thinking about basketball a lot. He isn't ready to practice, of course, after doing something like he has." The 6-10 Griffin was selected by the New Jersey Nets with the seventh pick of the 2001 draft so they could deal him to the Rockets for three first-round picks. Until several days before the draft, he had been projected as the possible first pick overall, and the Rockets said they likely would have taken him if they had selected first. "No way in the world did we think we would have the opportunity to get this guy," former Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. "Three picks help you fill some big holes. We think we got someone special. How many times do you get a chance to get a special player? Now we got this guy." The Nets used the first of those picks to choose Richard Jefferson, who helped key the Nets' run to consecutive Eastern Conference championships. They also picked starting center Jason Collins. Had the Rockets not make the trade, they likely would have taken Troy Murphy, one of only five players to average at least 10 rebounds and 10 points last season. But at the time, the Rockets and many around the NBA believed the Rockets had pulled a draft-day coup. Griffin struggled in his two seasons, but he also showed flashes of the talent the Rockets saw on draft night. He averaged 8.7 points, on 38.3 percent shooting, and 5.8 rebounds while teams repeatedly tried to acquire him in trades. Griffin had slipped in the draft in part because he had been in fights at Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia, where he was the Parade magazine National Player of the Year, and at Seton Hall, where he was an honorable mention All-American as a freshman. The Rockets' research before the draft indicated those incidents were uncharacteristic. After learning of his first suspension, then just two games, Griffin said, he had skipped the road trip to attend to "personal, family problems." "I just had some problems I had to take care of," Griffin said then. "Things are fine now. I'm going to be back with the team. I'm going to be out for two games, but I understand because that's the best for the team because I didn't show up. I had some stuff to take care of." But Griffin skipped the next day's practice. Even when Griffin's suspension was made indefinite, Van Gundy said: "I think this is going to be a very short-term problem, one I think needed to be addressed, but not one I see going on for a long time. That begins and ends with Eddie. It's all up to Eddie." That all changed Oct. 25. The morning after Griffin had skipped a private workout the Rockets had arranged for him, police responded to a report of gunfire at Griffin's home. On Nov. 20, Griffin was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and assault with bodily injury. On Dec. 10, Griffin, in his first appearance in state felony court, was ordered to obey a curfew and undergo random drug testing as he awaits trial. Assistant District Attorney Donna Welborn said Griffin punched JoAnn Romero in the face and shot at her as she left his home. Griffin's attorneys have said they will dispute that claim. Griffin also was ordered to stand trial Jan. 20 on a misdemeanor drug possession charge. But if the incident at Griffin's home effectively ended his tenure with the Rockets, his Rockets career already had fallen far short of expectations. Now, all it will be is over.
