Donatas Motiejunas at Monaco, finally finding a way out?
Donatas Motiejunas (2.13m, 35), excluded from Monaco’s rotation in hopes he would find another employer, could bounce back with Red Star Belgrade. While he was first reported to be close to joining Partizan, the Lithuanian big man is now about to join their Serbian rival, according to Sportklub.
A logical departure after being sidelined at Monaco
Having arrived in the Principality in 2021, Donatas Motiejunas is no longer part of Vassilis Spanoulis’s plans. The former NBA player hasn’t been registered for either EuroLeague or Betclic ELITE, unlike point guard Nick Calathes, who was ultimately kept by Monaco and has already played (10 assists against Le Portel, also present in the 12-man roster against Zalgiris Kaunas).
Sportklub reports that discussions between Motiejunas and Red Star are very advanced. The Belgrade club, urgently seeking a center since Jasiel Rivero‘s injury at the EuroLeague opener, has made the Lithuanian their priority.
A strong addition for Red Star
Drafted 20th overall in 2011, Donatas Motiejunas spent four seasons in the NBA (Houston, New Orleans, San Antonio) before moving to China, then Monaco in 2021. Extended by Roca Team in summer 2024 mainly due to his good relationship with President Fedorycsev, he seemed incompatible with Georgios Papagiannis and was impacted by Mouhammadou Jaiteh‘s emergence and the coaching change. Vassilis Spanoulis relegated him to the end of the bench and rarely called on him after Daniel Theis arrived in the principality.
In Belgrade, he would join an ambitious but depleted club: besides Rivero, Red Star must deal without Joel Bolomboy, and is also considering reintegrating Luka Mitrovic, who was sidelined by Janis Sferopoulos but remains under contract.
Timing is tight as the Serbians face Bayern Munich this Thursday for EuroLeague’s second round. It remains to be seen if the deal will be finalized before this away game. Either way, D-MO won’t be there.
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