A key Houston Rockets forward is eligible for a contract extension this year. But is the Rockets front office ready to commit?
Bench power forward Tari Eason, selected with the No. 17 pick out of LSU in 2022, emerged as an appetizing, versatile defensive option for Houston last year — along with All-Defensive Team small forward Amen Thompson.
Prior to a flurry of summer moves, it seemed like a no-brainer that Houston general manager Rafael Stone would ink the 24-year-old to an extension of his rookie-scale contract by the league's Oct. 20 deadline.
Eason's future in flux this summer?
Now, however, Eason's fate feels a bit murkier.
The 6-foot-8 pro impressed early, notching an NBA All-Rookie Second Team nod in 2023. Health issues limited him to just 22 games with the Rockets during his sophomore pro season, 2023-24, possibly hampering his progress.
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Across 56 healthy bouts for the 52-30 Rockets last year (16 starts), Eason averaged a career-high 12.1 points on .489/.346/.767 shooting splits, plus 6.3 boards, 1.7 steals, 1.2 assists and 0.9 blocks in 25.0 minutes per.
But, following an active offseason, questions abound about exactly how Eason will slot into Houston head coach Ime Udoka's rotation for a presumed contending run in 2025-26.
15-time All-Star power forward Kevin Durant's arrival could yield a reconfiguring of the team's first five. It seems like a given that recently re-signed point guard Fred VanVleet, Durant, Thompson and All-Star center Alperen Sengun will definitely start, leaving one spot open.
The departures of wings Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, as part of the Rockets' blockbuster seven-team deal for Durant, mean that a 2024-25 bench piece appears likely to earn a starting promotion. Jabari Smith Jr. and Eason seem likely to compete for that gig if Udoka wants another forward — but Houston recently spent a lot of money on two centers, Clint Capela and returning big man Steven Adams.
Would the Rockets consider shifting the 6-foot-11 Sengun down to center, the 6-foot-11 Durant down to small forward while installing Capela or Adams in as a rim-protecting big?
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To be fair, the Rockets absolutely do not have to make a decision on Eason's money right now. Should Houston do nothing and let Eason reach restricted free agency (or pick up his qualifying offer) in the summer of 2026, the club will be able to match any deal tendered in his direction from an opposing franchise.
Perhaps it would behoove Stone to wait and see how Eason's fit shakes out with the team truly hoping to win and money likely to get tight pretty soon.
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