The Houston Rockets have made many of the right decisions over the past few years, and it's important that the office understands that.
Adding Kevin Durant only complicates things, as the Rockets must not only pay a player a ton of money but also possibly extend him over the next few months, potentially taking minutes away from some of their young players.
There are a few players who could be impacted, but one player who needs to be not impacted is Tari Eason.
Eason has proven over the past few years to be a very good player for the Rockets, and the last thing the front office wants to do is get rid of him because of Durant, especially given how old he is. Despite that, ClutchPoints believes that the youngster could be a trade candidate throughout the year, noting the addition of Durant.
“Houston’s salary sheet is already stacked, with Kevin Durant ($54.7M), Fred VanVleet ($50.8). That financial pressure makes Eason’s case tricky: do the Rockets lock him up now at a potentially steep price, or do they flip him for a player whose contract aligns better with their contention window?
“There’s also the on-court dynamic to consider. Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., and Jae’Sean Tate occupy similar positions, limiting Eason’s minutes. If he’s not playing 25–30 minutes a night, his defensive impact, his main value driver, is diminished. The Rockets may conclude that his trade value will never be higher than in the months ahead, especially if he starts the season strong. If Eason’s camp and Houston can’t bridge the gap on an extension, he becomes one of the league’s most attractive trade chips for contenders seeking defensive depth,” they wrote.
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Durant doesn't look to be slowing down anytime soon, but that still shouldn't impact the Rockets' decision much for Eason.
Eason is an elite wing who can provide plenty for the Rockets over the next many years, and those are tough to find in the NBA.
Unless they get back a guaranteed player who could really help them, there isn't much of a reason to even consider this.