Report: Motiejunas suing Rockets over contract dispute
Free agent center Donatas Motiejunas is suing the Houston Rockets over how his contract negotiations were handled this past season, sources told Sean Deveney of the Sporting News.
Motiejunas will seek legal restitution in his arbitration against the Rockets and the NBA. Deveney reports that a settlement will likely be reached sometime next week.
The Rockets held restricted free-agency rights over Motiejunas and chose to match a four-year, $35-million offer from the Brooklyn Nets. However, the Rockets only opted to match the guaranteed portions of Brooklyn's offer, therefore leaving Motiejunas with a $31-million deal.
The Rockets then tried to renegotiate a similar four-year agreement, but decided to renounce rights on Motiejunas when he took his physical. The entire ordeal saw the Lithuanian center ink a $1.5-million agreement with the New Orleans Pelicans as part of a forgettable campaign.
Motiejunas finished the season with averages of 4.4 points and three rebounds in 34 appearances off the bench.