New Orleans Pelicans forward Donatas Motiejunas will become a free agent on July 1st, and recently discussed this summer with Lithuania-based basketball reporter Donatas Urbonas.
Motiejunas doesn’t sound like he’ll be returning with the Pelicans next season, despite joining the team less than five months ago.
“They don’t need me with four-to-five big man on the roster,” Motiejunas said, according to Urbonas.
The teams Motiejunas does have interest in signing with, however, include two conference finals clubs:
Motiejunas told he prefers San Antonio, Golden State, Utah or Washington. 'I like their game and I also have some interest from them'
— Donatas Urbonas (@Urbodo) May 15, 2017
The Wizards have long been a team of interest for Motiejunas, who scheduled a meeting with them in January before signing a contract with the Pelicans.
Motiejunas, a five-year pro who was drafted by Minnesota in 2011, has yet to win an NBA title. The number one goal in his mind is signing with a team that can compete for a championship, which means he’d be open to taking a short-term, team-friendly contract if needed.
“I want to play for a team where I would be a good fit and which plays team basketball. The money will come later,” Motiejunas said, according to Urbonas.
Should Motiejunas not have a team by August, he says, he’ll then consider potentially playing overseas.
“I’m still in a good relationship with Barcelona, but I’m open to all offers,” Motiejunas said, per Ubonas. “I got a lot of interest.”
Motiejunas has spent most of his NBA career with the Houston Rockets, but an unexpected contract dispute left him without a team for much of this past campaign. He would eventually sign a deal with New Orleans, who shockingly struck a trade agreement with Sacramento weeks later to bring in All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins.
With the Pelicans already having several frontcourt pieces on the active roster, perhaps allowing Motiejunas to walk in free agency wouldn’t be the worst decision. Their focus will be on unrestricted free agent Jrue Holiday before all else.
Donatas Motiejunas holds career-averages of 7.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 18.4 minutes.
