UPDATE: The Brooklyn Nets announced Friday night that they’ve signed Donatas Motiejunas to an offer sheet. The European Hoops writer David Pick says the sheet is worth $37 million dollars over four years, two of them guaranteed.
Brooklyn signed RFA Donatas Motiejunas to four-year $37 million deal, according to source. Houston has till Monday to match.
— David Pick (@IAmDPick) December 3, 2016
The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski has more details on the sheet. The Houston Rockets have until midnight on Monday to match the sheet.
Including bonuses, the first year of the $37M Motiejunas offer sheet is slightly frontloaded at $9.8M, league source tells @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) December 3, 2016
The Brooklyn Nets have apparently met with restricted free agent Donatas Motiejunas and are weighing whether or not to sign him to an offer sheet, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical.
A few minutes later, Marc Stein of ESPN added:
ESPN sources say Brooklyn will not sign Donatas Motiejunas to an offer sheet before Friday but deal is "likely" for restricted free agent.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) December 1, 2016
Motiejunas is a 7’0 power forward that has struggled to stay on the court with the Houston Rockets thanks to injuries — but, for the Nets, he could be a risk worth taking on. After the RFA and franchise found themselves at an impasse on a new contract this fall (and no other team willing to sign him), the talented Lithuanian has not yet featured in the 2016-2017 season.
According to Calvin Watkins of ESPN, the two teams were playing high-speed chicken:
“. . . Any team could have offered a contract to Motiejunas, which the Rockets could have matched.
It hasn’t happened, and since just three NBA teams have cap space, it appears doubtful a team will try to sign Motiejunas with the regular season roughly two weeks away. On Oct. 1, the qualifying offer expired, so now the Rockets can offer Motiejunas the same amount of money in a one-year deal or just wait.
Motiejunas seeks a two- or three-year deal worth much more than $4.4 million per season. Given Motiejunas’ health history and his back surgery of a year ago, the Rockets aren’t looking to make a long-term deal.”
Over his four years in Houston, Motiejunas has averaged 7.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists on 47% from the floor. However, in his best, most injury-free season, Motiejunas tallied 12 points, and 5.9 rebounds over 71 games, which would be a welcomed addition this Nets rotation. His lingering back injuries are worth careful consideration, but there’s also no arguing how a stretch four could fit well in this free-firing motion offense.
