Rockets' $100M+ Extension Offer to Tari Eason Falls Through

Merlin sees the Rockets put real money on the table for Tari Eason — ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said Houston “made Eason a strong offer” that “was in excess of $100 million,” but the two sides didn’t agree before the season. That matters because Eason just turned in a breakout year (roughly 12 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.7 steals off the bench) and will be a restricted free agent, meaning Houston can still match any offer and clearly values his upside. Merlin senses a calculated gamble: Houston signaled they view Eason as a building block but preserved flexibility by letting RFA rules do the heavy lifting. This season is Eason’s real audition — prove he can slide into a larger role or stay a high-impact glue piece, and the Rockets will likely press to keep him; otherwise the market may force a choice.