Grade the Trade: Rockets move Tari Eason (again) in absurd proposal

We’ve been quite clear about Tari Eason and the Houston Rockets.

Trading him should be a last resort. If the Rockets want a superstar, and Eason is the sticking point for the rival team, they can move him. Otherwise, he should remain in Space City.

Eason is the guy you want next to your stars. He’s not squeamish about doing the dirty work. This is the consummate role player.

Is that why Bleacher Report insists on including him in their mock proposals? They’re at it again. Now, they’re sending him to the Suns.

Spoiler alert: We don’t like the trade.

Why would the Rockets trade Eason?

The Rockets are getting Devin Booker, right? No? Ok, surely they’re at least getting Kevin Durant?

How about Josh Okogie and an unprotected first?

Granted, Bleacher Report has Booker in mind. For them, this deal is a means to that end - or at least a similar one.

"If poaching Devin Booker is the endgame, or even if Houston is just loading up for other blockbuster options, this tracks with that type of asset and trajectory management”

-Dan Favale, Bleacher Report

There is some logic here. The Rockets would be backing the Suns into a corner that, unless they win a title soon, they can only get out of by sending Booker to them.

What if we told you they’re already in that corner?

Rockets can’t trade Eason for superfluous pick

The Rockets can swap for the Suns’ 2025 pick if it’s most favorable. They own their 2027 and 2029 picks outright. If the Suns disappoint again in 2024-25, only the Rockets can bail them out of cap/asset prison.

They’d sure like to have Eason on the roster if that happens.

Who knows? The Rockets may need to move Eason someday. Suppose the Suns were prepared to trade Booker, and they had comparable offers from the Rockets and the Jazz on the table. If Eason is the tiebreaker, we will cry our tears and eventually (try to) move on.

But moving Eason preemptively to sweeten a pot that’s already sweet enough for the Suns is nonsensical. He’s already a better player than Okogie and considerably younger.

Let's call a spade a spade. Dan Favale covers the NBA, and this page covers the Houston Rockets. A Rockets fan wrote this article. Accuse us of bias if you like.

In this case, we are dogmatic in our principles. This deal does not make sense for Houston. We’ve said it once, and we’ll probably say it again:

Unless the Rockets are getting a star, or outright fleecing someone:

Leave Eason alone.

Grade: D