Rockets Pass on Tari Eason Rookie Extension

Tari Eason won’t get a rookie extension from the Rockets — talks “could not bridge gaps on multiple fronts,” per Shams Charania — so he’ll play 2025-26 on his current deal and enter restricted free agency next summer. That matters because Eason has grown into a high-energy spark off the bench (12.0 points, 6.4 rebounds in 2024-25) and Houston has signaled it’s “comfortable matching any offer that would come,” keeping control of his future. Merlin sees a player at a crossroads: durability and defense will sell him a payday, and the Rockets’ decision to exclude him from the Durant trade shows they value his role. If Eason stays healthy and keeps producing as a versatile defender, he’s more likely to get a matching offer than to walk.