Hawks Trade Former First-Round Pick to Rockets Ahead of NBA Draft Round 2

Contributing Sports Writer

🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur.

The Atlanta Hawks and Houston Rockets have agreed to yet another trade before the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft.

More news: 2024 NBA Draft: Winners, Losers, Biggest Surprises of First Round

The Hawks are sending forward AJ Griffin to the Rockets in exchange for the No. 44 pick in Thursday's second round. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported the news of the deal.

This comes after two other reported trades on Thursday before Round 2. First, the Minnesota Timberwolves sent guard Wendell Moore Jr. to the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons moved up 16 spots in the second round to take on Moore.

Then, the Golden State Warriors acquired guard Lindy Waters III from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for the No. 52 pick in the second round.

The trade between the Hawks and Rockets involves the biggest name of the day thus far, as Griffin was selected just outside the lottery at No. 16 in the 2022 NBA Draft. After appearing in 72 games his rookie season, he played in just 20 games last year.

Griffin is still just 20 years old after spending one season at Duke. The 6-foot-6 forward has averaged 7.5 points in 17.1 minutes per game in his brief NBA career. However, in his rookie season in Atlanta, he averaged a much better 8.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, and one assist in 19.5 minutes per contest. Griffin fell out of the rotation in Atlanta last year, but will now get an opportunity to join a new one in Houston.

The Rockets took a leap last year, finishing 41-41 and as the No. 11 seed in the Western Conference. They lucked into the No. 3 pick in Wednesday's first round, selecting guard Reed Sheppard out of Kentucky.

Griffin now essentially counts as their second-round selection, and at just 20 years old, he's likely as good as any prospect they would have selected at No. 44 overall. The Rockets also made a big trade before the draft, acquiring draft capital from the Brooklyn Nets.

As for the Hawks, they had the No. 1 overall pick and selected French prospect Zaccharie Risacher, a forward who played at JL Bourg-en-Bresse last year. They didn't have a second-round pick entering the day, but will now pick at No. 44 to try to add another piece to their roster.