Houston Rockets: The Feud Continues Over Donatas Motiejunas’ Rights

The Houston Rockets decided to do the what’s in the best interest of the team by completing its last not finalized deal.

The Houston Rockets decided to do the what’s in the best interest of the team by completing its last not finalized deal.

What is that you may ask?

The Houston Rockets have officially decided to match an offer sheet for Donatas Motiejunas to which could be multi-year deal.

So what does that exactly entail?

Let’s review if I may please.

We’ll rewind all the way back to October when this mess all started with the Rockets offering D-Mo the minimum qualifying offer of $4.4 million.

This is how business works and the Rockets were waiting to see if they could low-ball D-Mo to come back to work for cheap.

That didn’t happen.

One month later, the Rockets upped the ante by offering him a multi-year deal with the first year being guaranteed for $7 million.

D-Mo didn’t sign.

And just one week ago, the Brooklyn Nets, who had been rumored to land him since early in the off season, signed him to an offer sheet.

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This time, the deal was worth up to $8.5 million — $5 million upfront — for the first season guaranteed with the remaining years just the opposite.

The total package?

A deal worth four years, $37 million.

There was a wrinkle just a few days ago in regard to the stipulations of the contact causing him not to show up for physical.

That said wrinkle was thought to be ironed out later this week but now the Rockets and D-Mo have hit another snag.

The Rockets are looking to seek additional information in regard to his medical clearance to play, delaying the process of D-Mo’s return to the lineup.

He did show up to Toyota Center before Saturday’s 109-87 rout of the Dallas Mavericks but was asked to leave.

The Rockets have continued to be stone-faced and tight-lipped in regard to the issue but there are ongoing negotiations with the league office in New York, Rockets and D-Mo’s camp in regard to a possible resolution.

Here’s the latest from the Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan Feigen.

In regard to what’s been going on:

In regard to Daryl Morey not providing any additional details:

It remains to be seen if D-Mo will ever be a part of the Rockets once again.

I’d suspect that D-Mo just wants to play and delay of his return can only be frustrating for him.

It’s also the same sentiment for us fans as well as this feud between both camps gets nastier.

But I also understand that the Houston Rockets are a business and must be run as such to protect all financial interests.

Next: The Donatas Motiejunas Factor

So all due diligence must be made — after all, the Rockets just agreed to guaranteeing $8.5 million for D-Mo this season.

This wouldn’t even be an issue under normal circumstances but with D-Mo’s restricted free agent status, the Rockets have total control of his contractual rights.

Otherwise, he would’ve been freed a long time ago to play for whomever he wants.

But one thing’s for sure, Daryl Morey and D-Mo don’t like each other and their rocky relationship is only getting magnified even more after this elongated process.

Let’s all hope for a resolution soon as his skill set would be invaluable to this team.

Go Rockets.