Houston Rockets Working to Sign Tari Eason to Extension Before Extending Kevin Durant

The Houston Rockets are working to sign Tari Eason to an extension before extending Kevin Durant, according to NBA reporter Will Guillory of The Athletic.

Eason and Durant have one year remaining on their contracts.

“The belief among many around the NBA is that Houston is working to secure a long-term extension with Tari Eason — who also has one year remaining on his contract — before inking Kevin Durant’s new deal,” Guillory wrote. “The hope is that once both are secured, the Rockets will have a much better understanding of what the financial future looks like for this current core.”

The Rockets traded Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the 10th pick in this year’s NBA Draft and five second-round picks to the Phoenix Suns for Durant on July 6.

A future Hall of Famer, Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.2 blocks last season in 62 games. He shot 52.7% from the floor, 43.0% from beyond the arc and 83.9% from the free-throw line for the Suns, who missed the 2025 playoffs.

The Rockets, coached by Ime Udoka, made the playoffs last season for the first time since 2020. They lost to the Golden State Warriors in the first round in seven games.

A 15-time All-Star, Durant enters next season with career averages of 27.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.1 blocks with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Warriors, Brooklyn Nets and Suns. He won back-to-back championships and Finals MVPs in 2017 and 2018 with Golden State.

Durant turns 37 in September. He has won only two playoff series (2021, 2023) since leaving the Warriors for the Nets in 2019.

A top 75 player of all time, Durant is a four-time scoring champion and a one-time MVP. He will start next season alongside Fred VanVleet, Alperen Şengün, Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr.