The Houston Rockets have done an excellent job revamping their roster over the summer, putting them in a position to be a contender in the Western Conference for a long time. The addition of Kevin Durant gives the Rockets a much-needed elite shot-maker and will hopefully solve the team's concerns in half-court offense.
Even though the Rockets desperately needed KD to bring them to contender status, the organization isn't going all-in to extend his expiring contract. Both sides are reportedly fine with a wait-and-see approach. Instead, the Rockets are prioritizing extending the contract of Tari Eason, per ESPN insider Tim MacMahon.
Rockets are not prioritizing a Kevin Durant extension
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) August 13, 2025
"There's not a sense of urgency to get it done right now. The Rockets have other business that they need to handle this summer. Both sides will take a patient approach”
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Rockets Reportedly Prioritizing Tari Eason Contract Extension
MacMahon went on NBA Today on Wednesday and disclosed the latest from the Rockets organization. He confirmed the earlier reporting that the Rockets and Durant aren't necessarily negotiating right now. In the meantime, Houston has been working to get a Tari Eason extension done.
"The Rockets have other business they have to handle this summer. Primarily, the extension for Tari Eason."Tim MacMahon, ESPN
The Rockets have already given Jabari Smith Jr. an extension and re-negotiated Fred VanVleet's contract this offseason. Eason is entering his fourth season in the league, like Smith, and is extension-eligible as the 2025-26 campaign will be his last on a rookie-scale deal. Smith had signed a five-year, $122 million extension, and Eason's is expected to have less guaranteed salary than his draft classmate.
While locking up Eason to a long-term contract will immensely benefit the Rockets, GM Rafael Stone should be willing to play hardball with the 24-year-old's agent. The versatile forward is an excellent defender and was one of the best bench players in the league last season. At the same time, he is now a part of a very crowded frontcourt with the additions of Durant, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Clint Capela. His shooting concerns make him a tough fit alongside other non-shooters such as Alperen Şengün and Amen Thompson.
Therefore, the Rockets need to be cautious about not overpaying Eason on his new deal. Houston will need all the cap space it can get when Durant's new contract kicks in and Thompson is up for an extension. Anything above $20 million per year in Eason's new deal could harm Houston's financial flexibility moving forward.
It is a positive sign that both sides seem to want a deal done; however, what it will take to agree on an extension remains to be seen.