The Houston Rockets have reached a four-year, $35+ million deal with forward Donatas Motiejunas, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical.
After pulling offer sheet, Houston is signing Motiejunas to a four-year, $35M deal, league sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) December 9, 2016
Motiejunas will take the physical with Rockets, and upon passing, return to the team.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) December 9, 2016
Paramaters of new Rockets-Motiejunas deal are similar to Nets offer sheet, with only one season fully guaranteed, league sources said.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) December 9, 2016
Motiejunas will make $8.3M this season — and Houston will own a team option in each July of next three seasons, sources said.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) December 9, 2016
Bonuses could make the Motiejunas deal worth as much as $37M over life of the deal, league sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) December 9, 2016
Motiejunas previously signed a four-year offer sheet worth $37 million with the Brooklyn Nets, an offer sheet that was matched by Houston three days later.
Houston’s offer sheet only amounted to $31 million across four years due to missing incentives, making the offer unappealing to Motiejunas and agent B.J. Armstrong.
Motiejunas decided against showing up for his mandatory physical last week, choosing not to report to the team. Houston ultimately raised their offer, with the two sides reaching an agreement early Friday morning.
“It’s been a beautiful four years in Houston,” Motiejunas said last week during the impasse. “I’m happy with the people I’m working with. I’m happy with the city. This is a business. Whichever jersey I’m going to wear, I’m going to play as hard as I can for that team.”
Motiejunas last played for the Rockets on April 13th and was forced to miss significant time last season due to injury. The Rockets tried trading him in February, but the deal was ultimately voided after Motiejunas was deemed unhealthy.
Motiejunas holds career-averages of 7.8 points, 4 rebounds, 0.3 blocks and 19 minutes per game. He has spent his first four seasons with the Rockets, a franchise filled with players and management eager to re-sign the 26-year-old to a new deal.
