Rockets predicted to beat out Lakers for $16 million All-Rookie forward originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Houston Rockets have much to be proud of following the conclusion of the 2025-26 season.
Without a true point guard (Fred VanVleet was sidelined all year with an ACL injury), Houston still managed to win 52 regular-season games and earn a postseason berth. The Rockets failed to overpower the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference quarterfinals, though, resulting in a premature playoff exit.
The Rockets have several important roster decisions to make this summer, including what to do with their 6-foot-8 forward who earned All-Rookie second-team honors in 2022-23, Tari Eason. The LSU product is a restricted free agent and will likely be deemed as a valuable three-and-D contributor for multiple contenders.
NBC Sports’ Kurt Helin believes that while the Los Angeles Lakers could be in the mix for the 25-year-old, the Rockets will ultimately prevail in the bidding war.
“One of the more interesting free agents on this list. He’s a 6-foot-8 high-level defensive wing player who has started to find his shot and hit 35.8% from 3-point range last season,” Helin wrote Wednesday.
“He is exactly the kind of guy a lot of teams looking for two-way wings could use, and if teams like the Lakers can’t poach Peyton Watson from Denver (Nuggets), they might call about Eason. All of that is driving up his price, and he may find a deal in the $25 million a season range.”
“Houston likely pays that to keep him, but it’s worth watching on a Rockets roster that is going to get expensive in the coming years.”
Keeping Eason would be a wise move for the Rockets as they continue to inch closer to contention in the Western Conference. The Portsmouth, Virginia, native has proven his worth as a confident, high-energy wing with a serviceable perimeter jump shot and quick hands on the defensive end of the floor.
Eason averaged 10.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game with the Rockets this season, connecting on 41.6% of his field goals and nearly 36% of his triples. Eason will only improve with time, making him an asset the franchise should be committed to fighting for this offseason.
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