Houston Rockets free agency, trade rumors 2016: Donatas Motiejunas waiting for contract negotiation progress

(Wikimedia Commons/thepanamerican)Restricted free agent Donatas Motiejūnas (left) remains unsigned by the Houston Rockets.

National Basketball Association (NBA) teams seeking for a center this off-season can still find one on the free agency market as Donatas Motiejunas has yet to strike a deal with the Houston Rockets. 

Motiejunas is currently a restricted free agent, which means the Rockets can match any offer sheet he signs with another team.

In an interview with FOX 26, Motiejunas believes there are teams interested in him and admitted that his doors are open to offers. However, the 25-year-old is not counting out the possibility of him staying in Houston. 

"I spent four beautiful years with the Rockets, and I'll be happy to wear the red color another three-four (years), whatever it's going to be," Motiejunas stated. 

For now, there are two options for Motiejunas. One is to work out a long-term deal with the Rockets, and the other is to accept their qualifying offer. Going for the latter means the Lithuanian big man will again be a free agent after the 2016-17 season. 

In the report dated July 19, Motiejunas also revealed that negotiations between his agent and the Rockets are ongoing. 

"I talked to my agent today, in the morning, and he told me that he's been talking with the Rockets the last couple of days. I'm pretty confident everything is going to turn out for the best," Motiejunas said. 

"Both sides are talking and trying to get an agreement. We're working on it, and I think it's a matter of time when everything is going to clear up," he added. 

Last season did not go well for Motiejunas who dealt with a back woe which limited him to a career-low 37 games (22 starts). In those appearances, he averaged 6.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 14.8 minutes per contest. 

If Motiejunas remains a Rocket for next season, he is going to share minutes with the young Clint Capela and veteran Nenê. Most likely he is ending up as a backup to either of the two. 

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