The Houston Rockets and restricted free agent Donatas Motiejunas are once again at a standstill over contractual matters. After the Lithuanian big man failed to show for his physical, the Rockets had the option of either nixing the contract, rendering him a RFA once again, or waiving the physical which was the more unlikely option.
Houston gave Motiejunas two extra days to show for his physical, but his agent, B.J. Armstrong, said he wouldn't be reporting to the Rockets' facility.
According to a report by ESPN's Calvin Watkins, the dispute between both sides is $6 million in incentive clauses which the Brooklyn Nets originally had in the four-year, $37 million offer sheet. The team was only required to match the base salary figure, which they did prior to the deadline on Monday.
The ball is once again in the Rockets' court, which would very much repeat this process of letting another team make an offer, only to match it and go from there. The chances of that happening only get slimmer with the events of this week and his reluctance to accept a deal that is a safe investment for the team when it comes to his overall health.
Other teams are also less likely to bid on the dynamic forward/center after a trade to the Detroit Pistons was nixed last season when he failed his physical.
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