Donatas Motiejunas: Latest News, Rumors and Speculation on Rockets PF

The Houston Rockets extended a one-year, $3.4 million qualifying offer to Donatas Motiejunas in June, but the Lithuanian big man has yet to sign the tender, leaving his status in flux ahead of the 2016-17 NBA season.

Continue for updates.

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Latest on Motiejunas Negotiations

Saturday, Oct. 1

ESPN.com's Calvin Watkins reported the Rockets talked with Motiejunas' agent on Saturday, but nothing came of it.

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Motiejunas' Agent Comments on Rockets' Offer

Wednesday, Sept. 14

"They haven't made us a serious offer," Motiejunas' agent, B.J. Armstrong said on Sept. 14, per Watkins. "Our moment of truth will be Oct. 1. We'll make a decision on that day."

Armstrong added that he and Motiejunas haven't made any final decisions, but the Rockets power forward is at least weighing whether or not he'd sign the $3.4 million tender if Houston doesn't put another deal on the table.

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Motiejunas' Contract Situation Could Impact Rockets' Frontcourt Depth

NBA salary-cap expert Larry Coon explained what would happen if the Oct. 1 deadline passes and Motiejunas fails to sign the one-year contract:

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A qualifying offer automatically expires on October 1, unless it is extended by the team (which is rarely done). A qualifying offer cannot be extended past March 1. If the deadline passes and the qualifying offer is neither withdrawn nor accepted, the player continues to be a restricted free agent. The team and player are free to negotiate a new contract after the qualifying offer expires -- the deadline only affects the player's ability to accept his qualifying offer.

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Last year, the Rockets had a trade in place to send Motiejunas to the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons, however, voided the proposed deal after his physical raised red flags about his back. He then played in 23 regular-season games and appeared in the playoffs for Houston after the trade fell through. In 2015-16, Motiejunas averaged 6.2 points and 2.9 rebounds in 14.8 minutes a night.

Motiejunas and Armstrong could hold out as long as they can to maximize their leverage, similar to how Tristan Thompson and agent Rich Paul did before Thompson agreed to a five-year extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The problem for Motiejunas is that only seven teams actually have any cap space, according to Spotrac. And those seven teams have largely filled out their rosters for the 2016-17 regular season tipping off on Oct. 25.

Most likely, Motiejunas will sign the tender with the Rockets in the hope that he can cash in during the 2017 offseason.