Restricted Free Agent Tari Eason Agrees To 5-year, $81.5 Million Deal To Remain With Rockets

Restricted free agent Tari Eason and the Rockets reportedly have agreed to a five-year, $81.5 million deal to keep the smooth-shooting forward in Houston, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The deal is fully guaranteed, per Charania.

The 6-foot-8 Eason, 25, is coming off a season in which he shot 35.8% from 3-point range on 4.3 attempts per game and averaged double-digit scoring for a Rockets team that was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

The fourth-year veteran was selected 17th overall by the Rockets in 2022 and has become a vital and versatile depth piece who started 34 games last season. He averaged 10.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 25:49 minutes per game last year.

Eason, who has a history of injuries, played in just 60 games, missing most of January with an ankle injury.

Per Charania, Eason and the Rockets came close to an extension last October before the start of the 2025-26 season. However, Eason chose to play out the rest of the year and wait to become a restricted free agent.

Eason is rewarded for his patience with more guaranteed money: The forward will earn an average of $16.3 million under the new deal, which will make him the fifth-highest paid player on the Rockets' roster next season.

However, it's unlikely that Eason will receive the same salary annually, as Houston may flex his annual pay in order to fit under the salary cap. Amen Thompson, another young Rockets star, is also eligible for an extension, meaning that Houston may have Eason's contract drop slightly next year in order to adjust to Thompson.