Free agent forward/center Donatas Motiejunas has chosen to sign a $3 million contract with the Shandong Golden Stars of the Chinese Basketball Association, according to Lithuanian site 15min, translated by Sportando.
The former New Orleans Pelicans big man was mired in endless contract disputes between the Houston Rockets and the Brooklyn Nets last season, going back-and-forth due to contractual negotiations — ultimately landing in the Big Easy as a free agent.
His $3 million offer should dwarf the $600,000 he received from playing the back end of the season in New Orleans, finally getting the contract he and his agent had looked for since the start of last season.
The Lithuanian international is one of the most versatile big men in the league with his ability to handle the ball, and shoot the three from either the stretch power forward or center position.
Motiejunas' endurance and lackluster bill of health have raised questions in the last couple years of his career, making him a relative red flag among the few available free agent big men in the market.
He averaged 4.4 points and 3.0 rebounds per game in his 34 games with the Pelicans last season, a far drop from the 12 points and 5.9 rebounds per game in 2014-15 that put him on many teams' radar.
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