The Houston Rockets have spent the last year making big swings. Kevin Durant is their new centerpiece. Marcus Smart brings the kind of edge they’ve been missing. Bogdan Bogdanovic gives them shooting off the bench. But coach Ime Udoka knows those guys can only carry so much weight. The Rockets need their own draft picks to hit too.
Tari Eason is one of those picks. And now he’s locked in for the long haul.
The restricted free agent agreed to a five-year deal worth $81.5 million to stay in Houston, according to ESPN‘s Shams Charania. That’s fully guaranteed money. The kind of security Eason didn’t have when he turned down an extension offer last season.
At the time that looked like a real gamble. And for a while it looked like it might not pay off. Eason averaged 10.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals this season, shooting 41.8% from the field and 35.8% from three. Solid numbers for a role player. Not exactly the kind of stats that normally get you a nine-figure payday.
But here’s the thing. Houston doesn’t just look at the box score. They see a 6-foot-8 forward who can guard multiple positions, switch onto guards, and cause chaos in passing lanes. They see a guy who plays with the kind of motor you can’t teach. And they see a 25-year-old who still has room to grow.
The No. 17 pick in the 2022 draft joins Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard as part of the Rockets’ core going forward. That’s a group built around versatility and defensive potential. Eason fits right in.
Now the pressure shifts. Houston has the veteran talent. They have the young pieces. The Western Conference isn’t getting any easier. If Eason takes another step forward this deal could look like a steal. If he doesn’t it’s still a bet the front office felt comfortable making.
Eason won’t have to think about contract stuff anymore. Just basketball. That alone might be the best thing for him.
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