Lithuanian 7-footer Donatas Motiejunas, perhaps a clone of Toronto Raptors forward/center Andrea Bargnani, has been projected to be a Houston Rocket on mock drafts for quite a while. For example, DraftExpress currently has him going to the Rockets with the fourteenth overall pick. It seems that if Motiejunas was to fall to Houston, he would be too good of a bargain to pass up.
↵But I'm here to tell you that it won't happen. Donatas won't be donning a Rockets uniform any time soon. I promise.
↵How can I make such an assertion? Well, for one, it appears that Motiejunas won't be playing anywhere in the United States any time soon (yes, I did just play that card). According to David Aldridge of NBA.com, the 19-year old forward is "90-10" on dropping out of this year's draft crop.
↵↵↵In a sign that Motiejunas is likely to stay in Europe, he had his tonsils removed on Monday after dealing with throat infections for the better part of a year. The time he'll spend recuperating instead of practicing and working out for potential NBA employers would indicate that he's made his decision.
↵A source close to Motiejunas put the chances of his withdrawal from the Draft at "90-10."
↵
I never thought Motiejunas was the perfect pick for the Rockets by any means. His total disregard for defense wouldn't fit in with our club at all, and, as Aldridge points out, he was looking to go in the top twelve anyway.
↵So, don't lose sleep over Donatas. It was really never meant to be.