Stop including Rockets' Tari Eason in your mock trade proposals

I'm tired.

Specifically, I'm tired of grading bad Houston Rockets trades. More specifically, I'm tired of grading bad Houston Rockets trades that include Tari Eason.

So, I'm going to try a different approach. Bleacher Report just proposed (yet another) Rockets trade involving Eason. This time, they're sending him to the 76ers. I'm not grading this trade.

Instead, I'm issuing a PSA:

Tari Eason is not on the trade market.

Young Houston Rockets wing isn't likely available

"In 2022-23, Tari Eason was the only player in the NBA's top 50 in both Offensive Rebound % and Steal %"
-Me, 100x

Why do I keep citing this stat? Simple - it's important. It puts Eason in rarified air. It highlights specifically how impactful of a player he can be.

Bleacher Report has them sending him to the Sixers in exchange for KJ Martin, the least favorable 2026 first-round pick between Houston, the Clippers and the Thunder, and an unprotected 2028 first-rounder from the Clippers. What's their logic?

"Loading up on future Phoenix Suns picks from Brooklyn earlier this summer also suggests the Rockets are plotting a gargantuan pursuit down the line. Grabbing two first-rounders, including an unprotected Clippers choice, probably aids that cause more than Eason"

-Dan Favale, Bleacher Report

Right. Only, the Rockets will need to surround any star they receive in any gargantuan pursuit with quality role players. Someone like, for example, arguably the best extra-possession generator in the NBA.

Someone like Tari Eason.

Should the Rockets consider him untouchable?

Houston Rockets should hesitate to part with Eason

No.

Suppose Eason is a sticking point in the aforementioned gargantuan pursuit. In that event, he could be available. If the Suns are ready to move Devin Booker next summer, and they'll only do the deal if the Rockets include Eason, they're likely to (begrudgingly) include him in the trade.

So, Bleacher Report's logic tracks to some extent. If they'd trade him for a star, why not trade him for assets they'd need to land a star?

Well, to begin with, the least favorable pick between the Rockets, Clippers, and Thunder in 2026 is likely to land between 25th and 30th. It's effectively a second-round pick. This isn't the type of asset that will make a meaningful difference in any negotiation.

The unprotected Clippers pick, by contrast, is valuable. Is it more valuable than Eason? That's a difficult call. It's difficult to predict where the Clippers will be by 2028. We're confident in saying that Eason is significantly more impactful than an average first-round pick, but by 2028, the Clippers may be in the lottery.

That doesn't justify trading Eason for their pick right now. Again - Eason is specifically the type of role player you want on your roster if you're bringing in Booker (or Williamson, or Durant, or anyone). You trade him for that superstar if absolutely necessary - you don't trade him for assets to land that superstar.

You're hoping to hang onto him. In other words, Eason is a "break in case of emergency" situation as a trade asset. The optimal situation has the Rockets with a superstar on their roster, and Eason doing the dirty work for them, in the near future.

So: please. We're begging you. Stop throwing Eason in deals like he's inconsequential. The Rockets should - and likely will - cling to him for dear life. If he changes teams, someone is sending the Rockets a superstar - not one good pick.

Don't even ask what grade I'd give this trade.