Report: Brooklyn Nets sign Donatas Motiejunas to offer sheet

The Rockets will finally be getting some clarity on the Donatas Motiejunas situation.

Five months after the forward/center became a restricted free agent, Motiejunas signed an offer sheet Friday with the Brooklyn Nets worth $37 million over four years, according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.

The Rockets will have 72 hours to either match the offer sheet to keep Motiejunas or let him go to Brooklyn.

If the Rockets choose to match the offer, they cannot trade Motiejunas for one year without his consent and could not be traded at all to the Nets for one year.

The Rockets had reported offered Motiejunas a two-year deal with only the first season at $7 million fully guaranteed.

Motiejunas has averaged 7.8 points and four rebounds in four NBA seasons and was on the rise in 2014-15 when his minutes increased as Dwight Howard and Terrence Jones spent long stretches out with injuries. But two ensuing back surgeries have made the Rockets reticent to commit long-term.

Nets physicians found no lingering problems that would prevent a deal. However, only the first two years of the offer from the Nets is said to be fully guaranteed.

Motiejunas told Feigen he could not have a problem returning to Houston if the Rockets matched.

“Whichever team I go to, I’m going to give my heart to,” Motiejunas said. “I’m going to put in the work and defend that team. I’m going to do my job.

“I’m thankful the Brooklyn Nets acknowledged my talent. They checked out my health and found no problems. That lifts a problem off my shoulder.

“It was not easy, but … I got used to the situation. I did my part and let my agent do his. I’m happy with the way things worked out. We’ll see what is going to happen. I’m counting the days. It was a long last couple of months.”

Fran Blinebury has covered the NBA since 1977. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.

The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Turner Broadcasting.