Donatas Motiejunas is no closer to reaching a new deal with the Houston Rockets, and with training camp in less than two weeks, the clock is ticking for his agent - former player B.J. Armstrong - to expedite the process.
Houston extended a qualifying offer to the 25-year-old Lithuanian big man, making him a restricted free agent. Should Motiejunas accept the $3.4-million offer, he'd be free to sign with any team he wants as an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Related: Motiejunas' agent claims Rockets yet to make serious offer
Armstrong believes the Rockets are milking Motiejunas' restricted status to avoid paying him more money.
"The Rockets are using the rules of restricted free agency to their advantage instead of focusing on what I would hope is the only thing that I would think is important to everybody, which is winning games," Armstrong told the Houston Chronicle. "I hope with coach (Mike) D'Antoni and the staff that they want to put the best team on the court to help the organization win games. If that's the case, let's get past the restricted free agency and the rules and put the best players on the floor to help him win basketball games."
"The real issue here is in the next CBA," he added. "The restricted free agency has to change. That's what's going on at this point. At some point (general manager) Daryl (Morey) is going to put the best players out there to win games, which clearly Donatas is."
Armstrong added that Morey has asked him for an offer, although Armstrong isn't willing to negotiate against himself, believing the Rockets should already understand Motiejunas' value.
He suited up for just 37 games during the 2015-16 regular season after recovering from offseason back surgery, averaging 6.2 points and 2.9 rebounds on 43.9 percent shooting. Houston attempted to trade him to the Detroit Pistons prior to February's deadline, but his failed medical tests eventually nullified the move.
