The Rockets have made their stance on Tari Eason as a future cornerstone crystal clear

As the Houston Rockets have had a monster offseason, their relatively unnoticed trade of Cam Whitmore to the Washington Wizards could have huge implications for their roster moving forward.

With Whitmore gone and no guarantee of retaining superstar acquisition Kevin Durant, 24-year-old Tari Eason could represent a major part of the future for the Rockets, meaning that his role on the bench unit this season could represent a promising sign for the future of the team's frontcourt.

The path has been cleared for Tari Eason to become a Rockets cornerstone

When Houston acquired Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns in a blockbuster deal, it was decidedly a win-now move. The team, after earning the second seed in the Western Conference last season, looks distinctly ready for contention, and, in theory, Durant's generational shooting abilities could be what puts them over the top.

At the same time, Durant has only one year remaining on his four-year, $194 million deal he originally signed with the Brooklyn Nets, meaning that Houston knew there was no guarantee of this being a long-lasting experiment.

Therefore, as they focus their energy on contention this season, it would also be wise to keep on eye on the future of the organization.

Eason, who has grown exponentially every season since the Rockets drafted him with the 17th overall pick in 2022, is a strong candidate to be a major part of this future. Last season, as the team's back-up power forward behind Jabari Smith Jr., Eason averaged 12 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists while posting an efficient field-goal percentage of 54.3%.

Almost all of his numbers, apart from his rebounds and his 3-point shot, progressed from his second year in the league.

Moreover, Whitmore's departure means that there will be even more minutes available on an already relatively open bench for Eason's taking this season. With a potential starting lineup of Fred VanVleet, Amen Thomspon, Durant, Smith and Alperen Sengun, Eason could have a wide stretch of minutes with the bench unit to further flex his muscles on both sides of the ball.

In the case of the eventual departure of Durant, Eason could even slide into the three-spot if Smith secures the starting power forward spot, creating a line-up with extreme size and defensive capabilities across the board.

Therefore, while Eason is likely slated for a bench role for most of this upcoming season, his continued progression will be important to keep an eye on given the Rockets' recent offseason moves.