Rockets' plan for Tari Eason becomes frighteningly unclear following Durant extension

As the Houston Rockets approached the 2025-26 NBA season, it was clear that their two biggest financial priorities, inking both Kevin Durant and Tari Eason to extensions, were looming large over their future plans as an organization.

Yet, now that Durant has signed a two-year, $90 million extension to stay in Houston through the 2027-28 season, Eason's extension still remains unclear, and the organization's financial flexibility hinges entirely upon the number that the two parties ultimately decide upon.

While the organization outwardly stated that they were looking to extend Eason before finalizing anything for Durant, this new development brings in an extra layer of uncertainty.

Tari Eason still needs to be extended, even though Durant has signed

In trading for Kevin Durant this offseason, the Rockets knew that they were taking somewhat of a gamble given the fact that he only had one year remaining on his existing contract. Despite everything Durant said publicly, as long as there was no deal signed, there was always the possibility of him departing after one season and looking to finish his career elsewhere.

Now, however, with the news of his two-year extension, which sits $30 million below the maximum amount he could have demanded, Houston has ample cap flexbility with which to get a deal done for Eason and young star Amen Thompson, who will be due for an extension next season.

Nevertheless, the fact that Eason still remains unsigned presents cause for concern, and the deadline for his signing the extension this offseason on October 20 looms large.

Eason, through his three seasons with Houston, has proven himself to be one of the most dynamic bench players in the league. Last season, through 57 games, Eason averaged 12 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists, playing excellent defense and giving the team a bolt of energy in their bench minutes.

However, granting Eason much more than roughly $20 million a year on his new contract could still put the Rockets in somewhat of a financial bind.

Although Jabari Smith Jr. signed a five-year, $122 million extension this offseason, and Eason's performance likely means he deserves to use that as a comparable figure for his new contract, the team will still be relatively hard-pressed to give that to him and still maintain their financial flexibility moving forward.

Although Durant's relatively limited figure means that the team still has $80 million of wiggle room between them and the second apron next offseason, the fact that Durant signed before Eason leaves a heap of uncertainty on the table.

If the two parties do not get an extension done by tomorrow's deadline, Eason will hit restricted free agency next offseason: a process that, as we've seen this offseason, can quickly become contentious and paralyzing for an organization's flexibility.

Therefore, while Houston is now in a drastically better position to give Eason what he deserves, there still remains an amount of anxiety surrounding whether or not a deal will get done that allows the organization the flexibility they need to continue to build a championship-contending roster.