Report: Donatas Motiejunas close to finalizing lawsuit against Houston Rockets, NBA

Donatas Motiejunas is close to finalizing his lawsuit

New Orleans Pelicans’ Donatas Motiejunas is close to finalizing his lawsuit against the Houston Rockets and NBA, according to a Sporting News report Friday.

Motiejunas is suing the Rockets and the parent organization over a contract dispute. The 26-year-old center claims a prolonged restricted free-agency process last summer cost him millions of dollars. Reportedly, the sides are close to a conclusion.

Unsigned by the Rockets last offseason, Motiejunas remained without a team until December. That’s when the Brooklyn Nets stepped up and landed a deal, inking Motiejunas to a four-year, $37 million offer sheet. In turn, the Rockets matched the offer, sans a few of the Nets’ incentive clauses, which apparently diminished the deal to $31 million.

When Motiejunas finally reported to the Rockets, a division between the sides was evident. During negotiations last December, Motiejunas reportedly deleted “player of the Houston Rockets” from his Twitter.com account. Just when the sides seemed to agree on terms for an approximate $35-million deal, the Rockets recanted their rights after the former No. 1 draft pick failed a physical examination. Motiejunas became an unrestricted free agent but it proved to be a tough job market halfway through the regular season.

Motiejunas in January signed with Pelicans for a veteran’s minimum. In 34 games with the Pelicans, he averaged 4.4 points and 3.0 rebounds.

The ugly affair with the Rockets will continue to linger for a least a little while longer.

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Motiejunas and the Rockets’ brass, including coach Mike D’Antoni, obviously are eager to put the lawsuit behind them and go forward with their off-season responsibilities.

Motiejunas on July 1 is scheduled to become a unrestricted free agent.