Rockets learning a harsh Tari Eason lesson they should've known all along

As the Houston Rockets have begun the season with a 4-2 record, numerous players across the roster have started to settle into their revised roles within the team's rotational structure.

Yet, perhaps none has done so more efficiently than sixth man Tari Eason, who is averaging 11.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists through the team's first six games, and, now, the Rockets are learning that they likely should have extended him when they had the chance this past offseason.

Eason, clearly, is poised to take another massive leap this year, and, if these numbers increase over the course of this season, his restricted free agency could quickly become contentious: a disastrous scenario for a Houston team that will try desperately to keep their young core intact.

A massive leap for Tari Eason will force the Rockets to learn an exceedingly harsh lesson

Although Jalen Green was ultimately traded to the Phoenix Suns in the Kevin Durant trade, the Rockets have, overall, done an excellent job of locking down their young core long-term. This season, star center Alperen Sengun began a five-year, $185 million contract that, by its end, could prove to be one of the best contracts in the league. Likewise, they signed Jabari Smith Jr. this past offseason to a five-year, $122 million extension that could be trending in a similar direction to Sengun's.

However, when it came to extending Eason, the two sides evidently failed to reach common ground, with the young and energetic bench forward set to hit restricted free agency next offseason.

While it still remains unclear what the ultimate reason was for them not getting an extension done this past offseason, it has been rumored that the organization extended him an offer somewhere in the $100 million range (which may have been well below what Smith earned depending on the length of the offer).

With a market that projects to be infinitely more flexible next offseason, another leap forward for Eason could ignite a firestorm of interest surrounding a potential offer sheet, especially given the Rockets' limitations following their extension of Durant and their looming negotiations with Amen Thompson.

The real killer is that Houston should have been prepared for this. Last season, Eason took a massive leap, increasing his numbers virtually across the board and becoming even more integral to the team's hard-nosed defensive front.

As Eason continues to get more comfortable in his role, and now has an even deeper bench unit around him, it should be no surprise that he appears poised to take a similar leap this season.

Yet, his doing so could leave Houston in a rough position as they attempt to negotiate an extension for one of their most beloved and valuable young pieces.