Forward Tari Eason and the Houston Rockets agreed to a five-year, $81.5 million contract Thursday, according to league sources who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been completed.
Eason’s deal is fully guaranteed. It includes a player option in the fifth year and a 10 percent trade kicker, those league sources told The Athletic.
Eason entered the offseason as a restricted free agent and nailed down a deal that keeps the 25-year-old in Houston at a reasonable price. The contract also gives him long-term security despite his checkered injury history during the first few years of his career.
Eason, selected by Houston with the No. 17 pick in the 2022 draft, immediately showed he could be an effective role player with his defensive playmaking and size on the perimeter. He played all 82 games during his rookie season, but he has appeared in only 139 of Houston’s 246 regular-season games over the last three seasons. Despite issues staying on the court, his presence as a versatile defender and a reliable source of energy has made him a crucial part of the Rockets’ identity under coach Ime Udoka.
Last summer, Eason came close to signing an extension that reportedly would’ve exceeded $20 million per year, but both sides decided to step away and revisit talks after the 2025-26 season.
Eason got off to a hot start last season, averaging 12.2 points and shooting an NBA-best 47.2 percent from 3-point range over his first 30 appearances. But his numbers cratered after the All-Star break, and his 3-point shot went from blazing hot to ice cold. After the All-Star break, Eason made just 24 of his 110 3-point attempts (21.8 percent). His offensive confidence suffered because of his extended shooting slump.
That late-season drop-off in Eason’s shooting may have played a role in him taking a deal that was considerably lower than some around the league projected going into free agency.
Eason even sent out this tweet an hour before news of his deal broke.
I guess bruh🤷🏾♂️
— Tari Eason (@TAR13ASON) July 2, 2026
Either way, the Rockets bring back one of their top defenders and a crucial depth piece on a team with aspirations of making a deep playoff run.
After adding in deals with Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanović, Eason’s contract is expected to push Houston past the luxury-tax line and the first apron. If Houston doesn’t make any major moves to cut salary, this will be its first season operating as a first-apron team since the new system came into place.