It only took one game for Rockets' Tari Eason fears to be confirmed

The Houston Rockets failed to reach an agreement with Tari Eason this summer. He can't afford to play out the 2025-26 season with his next contract in mind:

It could cost him.

Against the Thunder, that seemed to be what was happening. Eason scored 3 points while shooting 1/6 from the field. He turned the ball over 4 times in just 21 minutes. Eason was pressing:

And that's exactly the problem.

Rockets' Tari Eason needs to play organically

Granted, pressing is Eason's calling card.

That's fine - on defense. Nobody wants Eason to change his approach on that end. He's going to outwork his matchup, and that's exactly where he thrives.

It's on the offensive end that his tendencies can be problematic. Eason isn't purely a 3-and-D wing. He does have some shot-creating abilities, but they're limited - so he needs to pick his spots carefully.

Against the Thunder, he didn't do that. Eason played like he was auditioning for a larger role - and a bigger contract next year. That's exactly the mindset Eason needs to avoid:

For his own sake and the team's.

By every indication, the Rockets have been happy with Eason. Likely, the two sides couldn't reach an agreement because they wanted to build injury-based incentives into his contract. So, all he needs to do to earn a lucrative contract is play his game and stay healthy.

If he can do that, everyone wins.

Rockets' Tari Eason is a winning player

If you read SpaceCityScoop, you know where I stand on Eason.

He gives the Rockets a unique edge. Few players in the league - if any - can match his frenetic energy. Eason is a wrecking ball, and the Rockets deploy him accordingly. He's been giving the Rockets an energy boost off the bench that they've come to love.

So why fix what isn't broken?

In the season opener, Eason did not look like himself. He seemed too eager to try to score. He wasn't quite as demonic as usual in passing lanes. If he was conserving energy for offense, he's making a grave miscalculation.

The season is long. This is just one game. Rockets fans shouldn't panic. The Tari Eason they know and love is likely to show up eventually.

If (when?) he does, Eason will earn his keep. He'll be paid this summer - whether by the Rockets or someone else. A healthy Eason will get a tremendous offer in Restricted Free Agency. Hopefully, the Rockets match it:

Unless Eason has reinvented his game for the worse.