Offseason: Free Agency | Latest from Ken Berger | Rumors
Houston Rockets big man Donatas Motiejunas spoke about the state of his team with BasketNews.lt's Jonas Miklovas, as translated by Lithuanian journalist Simonas Baranauskas:
D-Mo on role after Asik trade: "They have cap room, will get someone. Dunno what they'll do. They promised I'd play but dunno how it'll be."
— Simonas Baranauskas (@LithuaniaBasket) July 26, 2014
D-Mo on Parsons departing: "He's a good player, but would it be logical for management to pay him more than Harden?" #Rockets @DreamShakeSBN
— Simonas Baranauskas (@LithuaniaBasket) July 26, 2014
D-Mo on Parsons: "I think that alone determined they couldn't keep him. Harden would be 3rd player on the team & he wouldn't tolerate it."
— Simonas Baranauskas (@LithuaniaBasket) July 26, 2014
D-Mo on Harden's 'role player' statement: "I don't pay attention. He can talk what he wants. Maybe someone misinterpreted him." #Rockets
— Simonas Baranauskas (@LithuaniaBasket) July 26, 2014
The Chandler Parsons stuff is what stands out, and it's fair to wonder if NBA players view him as a max-contract guy. It's also technically inaccurate, as Parsons will make ever-so-slightly less than James Harden next season -- $14,700,000 to Harden's $14,728,844, per ShamSports -- and beyond.
"Logical" or not, Houston would have been happy to match the Dallas Mavericks' offer sheet for Parsons had Chris Bosh agreed to join the team. Still, on the heels of LeBron James signing a max contract to finally become the sole-highest-paid player on his team for the first time, this is another reminder that money is a reflection of status in the NBA. It's not something that players talk about publicly all the time, but it's true.
