Crazy stats show that Rockets' Tari Eason has star potential

The Houston Rockets' Rafael Stone has made a lot of bold decisions over the years. The team's strategy to tank and then aggressively pivot to competitive basketball was not universally celebrated. Some Rockets fans still have mixed feelings about Stone, but they can't deny this:

He's done well in the draft.

Sure, anyone can draft in the lottery. High picks have not been Stone's signature. Some suggest he should have selected Evan Mobley ahead of Jalen Green in 2021. Otherwise, Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard were all close to consensus choices.

Stone has made his mark just outside of the lottery. Everyone knows that trading for Alperen Sengun after the Thunder picked him 16th was a stroke of genius.

Now, it looks like Stone may have unearthed another star just one pick later in the next year's draft.

Rockets' Tari Eason is emerging as a star

Partly, this is a reaction to Eason's dominant Friday performance against the Mavericks.

He had a career-high 30 points on 11/15 shooting from the field. Eason chipped in 8 rebounds, a steal and 2 blocks. That said, the Mavericks were severely undermanned. Naji Marshall is a good defender, but with Anthony Davis on the sidelines, Eason had a field day.

Only, it's not just this game forecasting Eason's potential. Over his last 10 games, he's averaging 15.6 points while shooting 50.5% from the field and 37.5% from long-range. In his last five outings, Eason is contributing 16.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks per game.

Eason has been playing the best basketball of his career. What does his future with the Rockets hold?

Rockets must keep Eason at all costs

Eason's future may be (relatively) easy to project, but the Rockets' is less clear.

Will they consolidate assets to acquire a superstar? Are they going to stick with this homegrown core? Nobody knows, and any decision will have implications for Eason.

Some fans have been quick to typecast him as a role player. That's understandable. Eason feasts on offensive rebounds and steals. He exploits easy opportunities to score by putting defenses on a tilt. Those are invaluable qualities, but star players create offense in the halfcourt.

Lately, Eason has been doing that. His passing has improved. Eason has developed a nifty midrange fadeaway that he can go to against a set defense. He's shooting a career-best 42.2% between 3 and 10 feet.

His basic counting stats are not gaudy. Outside of Friday's outburst, Eason seldom eclipses 20 points. He may never be a high volume scorer. Eason may be closer to "a star in his role" than a perennial All-Star.

That would be fine. Eason projects to be one of the best role players in the NBA - if he isn't already. That said, his recent production hints at more.

Credit Stone for finding him with the 17th pick either way.