Rockets have granted Ime Udoka his wish but at an uncomfortable expense

As the Houston Rockets pulled the trigger on the blockbuster trade for Kevin Durant this offseason, it was certain that the front office as well as the coaching staff had set their eyes on winning a championship in the near future.

However, while head coach Ime Udoka was one of the biggest proponents of bringing Durant in in order to revolutionize the team's offense, Durant's looming contract extension could cause a set of uncomfortable scenarios as the organization attempts to extend the rest of its young players.

Tari Eason, 24, will enter restricted free agency after this season, and Reed Sheppard, 21, will enter the end of his rookie contract in three seasons. If Houston is ultimately able to extend Durant beyond 2025-26, serious issues could arise in their ability to balance their cap sheet.

Ime Udoka's push for Kevin Durant could cause contractual issues down the road

Although the Rockets finished the 2024-25 season as the second seed in the Western Conference, it quickly became clear that the team needed a go-to option on offense in order to unlock their full potential.

In seven games against the Golden State Warriors, Houston failed to break the 100-point threshold four times, ultimately falling in a tight series as a result of their lackluster offensive performance in clutch minutes.

Therefore, head coach Ime Udoka, was among the biggest supporters of the organization's push in the Durant sweepstakes, understanding that the team was well within reach of serious contention if they were able to add a star of his caliber.

Now, however, Durant is entering the final season of the four-year, $194 million contract he originally signed with the Brooklyn Nets, and, by all accounts, it would be an organizational failure if they are not able to extend him for at least the next couple of seasons.

While the Rockets have already inked most of their young stars including Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr., to lengthy extensions, the two players are owed over $300 million combined over the next five seasons, and, coupled with a near-max extension for Durant, the organization could be in a financial bind rather quickly.

Therefore, the looming restricted free agency of Eason after this season as well as the, albeit further off, restricted free agency of Reed Sheppard at the expiration of his rookie contract could get seriously dicey.

This offseason, Houston has seen rival organizations such as the Warriors be handicapped by their lack of financial flexibility in negotiations with their restricted free agents, and, if Eason and Sheppard continue to progress into bona-fide NBA players, they could ultimately be left in the same position.

While Udoka's push for Durant certainly made sense and was almost certainly the correct direction for the team, there could be some unforeseen issues down the line as a result.