At least for now, Tari Eason remains with the Houston Rockets.
Eason’s future with the Rockets after the 2025-26 season has been up in the air since contract extension talks with Houston failed. The 6-foot-8 forward’s lengthy injury history prevented the two sides from working out a deal, and those concerns have continued this season.
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When healthy, he is one of Houston’s most important contributors, but Eason has missed 20 games this season and his name was being floated in rumors ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
Eason’s short-term future
While some believe Houston would be better off trading Eason now, the Rockets don’t appear ready to part ways with the forward just yet. In desperate need of another point guard, Houston has been linked to Chicago Bulls guard Coby White, but Eason will not be involved in any trade.
The Rockets are reportedly “reluctant” to include Eason in a trade for White, suggesting Houston wants to keep the former LSU Tiger. White would be a clear upgrade in the Rockets’ backcourt, but without Eason, the deal seems unlikely to materialize.
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The Rockets have maintained a patient approach to roster construction despite Eason’s injuries, and it’s hard not to fault them for that. In 24 games, Ethan averaged 12.0 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, while shooting a career-high 46.8% from three-point range.
When you consider Eason’s energy on offense and impact on defense, it’s easy to see why Houston wouldn’t trade him before this summer’s deadline in an attempt to re-sign the forward to a long-term contract.
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Houston Rockets ‘reluctant’ to involve Tari Eason in trade discussions