The Houston Rockets pried away Dorian Finney-Smith from the Los Angeles in the summer of 2025, nabbing one of the best role players of last season's team away from Rob Pelinka. The Lakers general manager can return the favor in 2026 by swooping in and signing Tari Eason.
Eason and Kevin Durant were the two key names of the core in Houston that needed new deals done. Durant signed on the dotted line, reaching a two-year, $90 million contract extension with the Rockets. There was no such luck with the promising young forward.
Shams Charania reported on Twitter/X, "No rookie extension for the Houston Rockets and Tari Eason, sources tell ESPN. Sides could not bridge gaps on multiple fronts by Monday's deadline. Eason will become a restricted free agent next offseason."
Guys not expected to get extensions per Shams:
Tari, Ivey, Duren, Benn, Sochan, Walker, Peyton Watson pic.twitter.com/6nInbqxznX
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) October 20, 2025
Pelinka and Los Angeles have positioned themselves to have plenty of cap space for the summer of 2026. With the Rockets and Eason failing to agree on a new contract they were both comfortable with, this is where the Lakers can pounce and fill a big-time roster need.
Lakers can get the last laugh over Rockets with 2026 free agency steal
The way the outwardly perspective on negotiations between the Rockets and Eason looks would suggest that there was dispute on the value of the new deal. That is the right kind of development for a team like the Lakers who would hope to nab the former first round pick in restricted free agency.
If the number Eason and his party has in mind is not one the Rockets are comfortable with, that is a point of contention that can be exploited by the Lakers front office when the time comes. Los Angeles will have pretty close to a blank slate for their cap books heading into the summer of 2026.
Granted, they also have at least one key name to take care of in free agency as well. Austin Reaves will need a brand-new contract with him entering even more dangerous territory than that of Eason for the Rockets, hitting unrestricted free agency.
Past that, there is a lot of flexibility for how the Lakers can build around Luka Doncic. Eason would be a great choice for that roster construction.
The Rockets forward plays exactly the type of two-way brand of basketball that is missing from the Lakers right now. Eason has also consistently shown signs of growth every season. There can be a reasonable expectation here for Doncic to further unlock his offense, particularly his shooting.
Eason registered a defensive rating of 106 per 100 possessions last season, while posting 1.7 steals and 0.9 blocks per game. The athleticism and size would fill a crucial need for Los Angeles on that end.
Most expected Eason to re-up with the Rockets ahead of the contract extension deadline. With those negotiations falling through, Pelinka has his chance to throw an offer sheet that steals the talented young forward.