Donatas Motiejunas to become unrestricted free agent

NBA Update – The Houston Rockets renounced their rights to power forward Donatas Motiejunas on Thursday, making him an unrestricted free agent, per NBA.com.

Motiejunas spent his first four NBA seasons with the Rockets, averaging 7.8 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.

Rockets general manager Daryl Morey released a statement through NBA.com about the transaction: “Donatas was a true professional throughout his four seasons with the Rockets. We wish Donatas the best moving forward and want to thank him for his contributions both on the court and in the community.”

Motiejunas hasn’t played this season as he was a restricted free agent while he and the organization could not settle on a contract.

On Dec. 3, he signed a four-year, $37 million offer sheet with the Brooklyn Nets, but the Rockets matched it two days later and managed to retain his rights.

Head coach Mike D’Antoni continued to praise Motiejunas during the process, stressing how integral of a part he could have become in Houston when the offer sheet was matched, via ESPN.com’s Calvin Watkins: “He’s skilled, 7 feet, knows how to really play basketball, a hard worker. Above all, just his basketball intelligence will be great for any team; it will be great for us. We just got to fit him in and work it out and get him into shape. It’s going to take a little bit, but there’s time.”

Yet Motiejunas failed to show up to an initial physical, forcing the Rockets to lift the offer sheet, per Watkins. He finally took one on Dec. 9, but the status of his surgically repaired back called his longevity into question.

Those back issues had previously prevented the Rockets from dealing him to the Detroit Pistons last season and have once again thrown a wrench into his career path.

Given Dwight Howard’s departure for the Atlanta Hawks over the summer, Motiejunas could have seen an expanded role with the Rockets if he was able to make the court.

Now with this saga officially over, though questions about his health still remain, teams that are looking for versatile frontcourt help will likely be calling upon Motiejunas sooner rather than later.

Category: Basketball