NBA Players' Association considering filing grievance over the voided Donatas Motiejunas trade

More than a week has passed since the Pistons voided a three-team deal after they uncovered health concerns over Donatas Motiejunas' back, but after some initial back and forth between Stan Van Gundy and the Lithuanian big man, everything seemed to settle. That is, before the NBA Players' Association got involved.

Earlier last week, it was reported that after the trade fell through, the Rockets forward had a few choice words for Detroit, calling their medical exams a "joke", and saying he was "screwed" by the Pistons, whom he believed used him as a scapegoat to cancel a trade they realized they didn't actually want. Stan Van Gundy responded to the accusations the following day, maintaining that the deal was voided due to Donatas failing the medical, and nothing else, but it seems that SVG's candidness about why the trade was nixed could land him in hot water.

According to Marc J. Spears over at Yahoo Sports, the NBPA is considering filing a grievance with the League over how the Pistons handled the cancellation of the trade. Although Michele Roberts, the NBPA President, and a union spokesperson refused to comment on the situation, it is understood that Motiejunas' representatives have complained about how Stan Van Gundy publicly raised doubts over the forward's back injury. This is especially problematic for Donatas, who is an impending restricted free agent, as he now believes his stock has dramatically dropped, which could lead him to missing out on a much larger contract during the offseason.

Spears points out that the the Pistons' coach and executive was fairly vocal about how the trade had been voided due to Donatas failing the medical, while an official statement made by general manager Jeff Bower, relayed only that "medical clearance was not given on all players and the trade is being rescinded."

The difference between both Bower and Van Gundy's statements is where the problem lies. As a member of the front office, and as a coach, SVG can be reproached for divulging what is essentially confidential medical information. He could and probably should have stuck to the company line delivered by Bower, where no names, injuries or their severity are mentioned.

The NBPA is reportedly still weighing its options, but rest assured that we will keep you updated as new information comes to light.