Donatas Motiejunas admitted it’s unlikely he will stay with the New Orleans Pelicans because the team is already dealing a surplus of big men. The Lithuanian big man played 34 games for the Pelicans last season, averaging 4.4 points and 3.0 boards in 14 minutes per contest. Unfortunately, with 4-5 big men already on the roster, Motiejunas believes he’s no longer needed there.
Contract Dispute
The 26-year old Motiejunas had a roller-coaster 2016/17 season, starting it off with his contract with the Houston Rockets. He was supposed to earn $37 million over four years after signing the Nets’ offer-sheet, but the Rockets surprisingly matched the offer.
Several days later, the Rockets eventually withdrew their offer for Motiejunas after the big man reportedly failed a physical examination.
Motiejunas officially hit the market as an unrestricted free-agent, but the no longer received significant offers from other NBA teams. Three full months into the 2016/17 season, he finally reached a one-year deal with the Pelicans in January. In a report by Sean Deveney of Sporting News, Motiejunas and the Rockets are still engaged in a legal proceeding over the team’s mishandling of the situation which caused an onerous effect on his NBA career.
However, Motiejunas cleared via Twitter that his problem with the Rockets has already been resolved last April.
“A month ago we with the NBPA and the Houston Rockets found an agreement and solved everything. There are no court proceedings between us. The information which was published by the media is false.”
Next destinations for D-Mo
Motiejunas told Lithuanian hoops journalist Donatas Urbonas that he wants to land a long-term deal somewhere.
D-Mo just pocketed 567K of what would have been a paycheck of $9 million last season, if his contract with the Nets materialized. However, Motiejunas appeared to have already moved on from that contract snag as he looks to want to re-energize his career elsewhere.
Motiejunas mentioned the San Antonio Spurs, Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz and the Golden State Warriors as teams he’s interested in playing for, adding he also wants to win an NBA championship with one of these NBA contenders.
Moreover, he also believes his playing style, as a stretch forward, will fit nicely with their system. ‘I like their game and I also have some interest from them,’ said Motiejunas.
News4 – San Antonio writer Michael Rehome also thinks Motiejunas is a great fit for Gregg Popovich system because of his ability to stretch the floor. While Motiejunas is not known for crashing the board, he can very much create space for LaMarcus Aldridge to operate down low, just like Pau Gasol has done all season long.
