The Houston Rockets showed Donatas Motiejunas some level of respect when they extended him, but not Terrence Jones, a qualifying offer at the start of the summer, making him a restricted free agent. But the love train apparently stopped there.
Motiejunas is still floating around the NBA’s free-agency ranks. And his agent told ESPN.com’s Calvin Watkins the Rockets haven’t done anything of note since extending the qualifying offer:
“They haven’t made us a serious offer,” Motiejunas’ agent, BJ Armstong, told ESPN on Wednesday. “Our moment of truth will be Oct. 1. We’ll make a decision on that day.”
The Rockets, who don’t comment publicly regarding pending player contracts, made a $3.4 million qualifying offer this summer. Armstrong indicated if a deal isn’t done, Motiejunas may not sign the qualifying offer. Motiejunas, who started in 22 of 37 total games last season, has met with new coach Mike D’Antoni and was told he would have a significant role with the team.
This is kind of weird. Motiejunas isn’t a star-in-the-making, and he has back issues that prevented a trade to the Detroit Pistons from going through. But, at his peak, he works as a stretch 5 who can provide some defense at the rim. That’s an asset new Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni can use.
At the same time, Motiejunas must not have much of an outside market, otherwise a deal of some kind would have been done. Either the Rockets would have matched an offer sheet he signed elsewhere, or they would have allowed him to join another squad.
Manufacturing any leverage now becomes tough for Motiejunas. Most teams don’t have the cap space necessary to offer him a deal that forces the Rockets’ hands. He’s at their mercy in many ways unless a surprise suitor comes swooping in.
If a deal isn’t reached by October 1 and Motiejunas doesn’t just sign his qualifying offer and play under a one-year deal, his qualifying offer gets voided and he will remain a restricted free agent. He and the team can still hold contract negotiations, but he won’t be able to join them until those are done.
