After extending another 24 hours on the usual 72-hour trade window to clear Donatas Motiejunas, the Detroit Pistons still failed to clear the power forward. As a result, the trade between the Houston Rockets and Detroit Piston is in the process of being voided.
Sources have revealed the three-team trade is off between the Rockets and the Pistons, also affecting the deal with Philadelphia 76ers. As a result, Motiejunas and his wingman Marcus Thornton will be sent back to the Rockets while Joel Anthony will end up in Philadelphia 76ers. Christian Post added that Pistons will retain the top eight protected first round draft that initially came with the agreement.
Houston's 3-team trade of Donatas Motiejunas is in process of being voided by Detroit in accordance with the NBA, sources tell The Vertical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 22, 2016
Last week, the Rockets traded off Motiejunas and Thornton to the Pistons for a protected 2016 first-round pick, reports ESPN. NBA granted Piston's request for an additional 24 hours to check if Motiejunas could play for the team. However, despite additional tests, Pistons still failed to clear the player due to a lingering back problem.
Furthermore, the Lithuanian player has not played in any NBA game since Dec. 31 due to a persistent back pain that has affected him ever since his operation late in the previous season. SportsRageous also added that Motiejunas has only played in NBA D-League for Rio Grande Valley Vipers to gradually adjust his body back to the game. He was first drafted by Minnesota Timberwolves in 2011 and played for the Rockets for his first stint in the league.
Meanwhile, another trade off was exchanged between the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies. The latter traded off Jeff Green for Lance Stephenson, reports ABC News. The power guard has a record of an average 4.7 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists in the first 10 of 43 games of the Clippers. He reportedly played for Charlotte and Indiana previously, reports ABC News.
Check out the best plays of Montiejunas in the video below:
