Houston can pay Tari Eason the same annual salary that it gave Jabari Smith Sr. or lose him to an eager market.
The Houston Rockets have built arguably the deepest and most talented group of forwards in the NBA. Kevin Durant and Amen Thompson are the headlining acts for a rotation that includes Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr., and the occasional power forward exploits of All-Star center Alperen Sengun.
That group could prove short-lived, however, if the Rockets are unwilling to accept the unavoidable reality of Eason's next step: A contract that at least matches Smith's new annual salary.