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The Houston Rockets are undergoing the process of revamping what was one of the worst bench units in the NBA last season. They lured playmaker Marcus Smart and veteran shooter Bogdan Bogdanović in from free agency, and Bruce Thornton was signed in the second round of the draft.
The biggest move, however, was retaining Tari Eason for five more years, as the 25-year-old signed an $81.5 million deal to stay with Houston. His future with the squad was a hot topic after he rejected a contract offer last year that was in excess of $100 million.
After an up-and-down season, he's settled for a good deal that also gives the Rockets further flexibility when it comes to roster construction. Off-the-court numbers aside, what does Tari Eason continue to offer the Rockets, and what will his new role look like on a revitalized Rockets bench?
Tari Eason provides solid defense, average three-point shooting, and dynamism to the Rockets
It's easy to label Tari Eason as a 3-and-D player and call it a day; that description doesn't accurately represent what he adds to the Rockets when he's at his best.
While he isn't a shooting liability from long-range, I wouldn't describe him as a consistent shooter. Throughout his four NBA seasons, he's shot at a respectable 35.0% according to ESPN. Not elite, but very serviceable.
In fact, versatility is his defining trait. Eason hasn't averaged less than one steal per game in his entire NBA career; his career average is 1.3 per game. Eason has never averaged less than six rebounds per game across an entire season, and his career PPG is 10.4.
The numbers paint him as the ultimate generalist. He's a piece you can rely on for minutes in every situation, but not elite enough to take over the starting spot of an above-average player.
Combine that with his defensive workrate, which at times can be considered elite, and you have a player that most teams in the league wouldn't hate to have on their roster. It's safe to say Houston got him for cheap, while Tari Eason secured a generational sum of cash for doing what he does best, being the ultimate bench piece for a Rockets squad that is trying to compete with the Spurs and the Thunder for years to come.
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