NBA Execs Concerned About Motiejunas' Inner Drive

[The Lone Granger]

Scouts remain concerned about several aspects of Lithuanian power forward Donatas Motiejunas’s game.

"He doesn't really love basketball," a Central Division executive says. "He doesn't seem to appear to like to do anything that's even a little difficult. That scares you a little bit. The only thing he gets an excellent on is offensive rebounding and putbacks, and that's because he's doing it against midgets."

Said an Atlantic Division exec: "Right now, it's not even close. Vesely is a player and Motiejunas is an unknown. I've seen him play too many times when he would get two rebounds, three rebounds. He's projected in all these mocks to go top 10. I don't think so. I think he lacks passion for the game. He looks like he's got short arms. That might be a factor.

"He gets pushed under (the basket) a lot and then he reaches up. Guys are going up over him to get rebounds. He lacks fire, lacks emotion. Always has the same demeanor on the court. If you're 7 feet tall and you have any hope of coming over here you have to be, routinely, getting 10, 11 boards ... I can't get excited about him."

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/213462/NBA_Execs_Concerned_About_Motiejunas_Inner_Drive

I've watched some tape of this kid, and that's something that concerned me as well. At times he does have a drive that I think could get him places in the NBA, but other times he just stops trying it seems like. If he can get his heart up, I think he could have a good career. Otherwise, watch out for a bust.

Thoughts?

 

[RipCity32]

Sounds like he is destined to be a Piston <_<

 

[DJT]

If you don't feel like he is in love with the game, I don't think you can draft him in the first round...well definitely not the lottery.

 

[DJT]

Sounds like he is destined to be a Piston <_<

lol The next Darko.

 

[footballplaya52]

lol The next Darko.

must be painful for pistons fans to look back on what they could have had in the 03 draft. Wade or melo, even bosh.

 

[The Lone Granger]

The way I view him is like Yi Jianlian. He has a nice shot, and at times a great heart, but he just isn't consistent enough with it. I'm hoping he learns, and doesn't take the career path that Jianlian has.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Sounds like he'll drop like a rock.

 

[RipCity32]

must be painful for pistons fans to look back on what they could have had in the 03 draft. Wade or melo, even bosh.

:/

 

[Pugz]

The way I view him is like Yi Jianlian. He has a nice shot, and at times a great heart, but he just isn't consistent enough with it. I'm hoping he learns, and doesn't take the career path that Jianlian has.

i went to a pistons/nets game and yi never missed a shot during a shoot around. but in game hes weak. as for this guy, i hope the pistons dont draft him.

 

[WhenIRap]

Motejunas isn't a bad player. However having lived in Lithuania it's kind of a destiny to be a basketball player. I'm positive that Motejunas loves the game and does have that inner drive within him.