As the Houston Rockets enter the 2025-26 NBA season, their greatest strength will lie in the versatility of their rotation: a fact that head coach Ime Udoka has already acknowledged by stating that the fifth starting spot will be earned in training camp.
While this burgeoning competition represents a number of possibilities, including increased roles for Dorian Finney-Smith and Steven Adams, it could, according to Paulo Alves on the recent episode of The Lager Line podcast, simultaneously prevent young forward Tari Eason from moving off of the bench.
Although Eason would present a small-ball, defensive skillset to the starting five, Alves argues that his ongoing contract negotiations could prevent the organization from increasing his role any further.