Rockets Reportedly 'Prefer' Kevin Durant's New Contract Come After Eason's Extension

The Houston Rockets reportedly want to take care of business elsewhere before agreeing to a widely expected extension with Kevin Durant.

NBA insider Jake Fischer reported Sunday that Houston "would prefer to secure an extension with Tari Eason" prior to coming to terms on a two-year deal with Durant. While he noted it's "no real issue" if Durant signs his two-year deal first, the Rockets "would relish knowing exactly how the books look with an extended Eason."

Fischer explained the five-year, $122 million contract extension Jabari Smith Jr. agreed to with the Rockets "will likely affect Eason's deal, too. Some cap strategists are penciling an Eason extension to come in below Smith's $24.4 million in average annual value. Such a deal could also feature a player option in Year 4 after Alperen Şengün and Jalen Green landed player options in their recent extensions."

Durant was Houston's primary addition this offseason, although he is entering the final year of his deal. All indications, though, are that he will sign the maximum two-year extension allowed under the NBA's over-38 rule as the team and future Hall of Famer look to pursue a championship this season and beyond.

Surrounding him with the right pieces will be key in those efforts, and Eason is one of those solid role players who is set for restricted free agency after this season on his current deal.

The 2022 first-round draft pick is coming off a career-best campaign in which he averaged 12.0 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game while shooting 48.7 percent from the field and 34.2 percent from deep.

The forward's ability to extend his game beyond the arc makes him a matchup problem and someone who can take advantage of the spacing created by playing alongside Durant.

Ideally for Houston, that pair will team up beyond just the upcoming season.

That will mean coming to terms on extensions with each, and the team reportedly prefers to do business with Eason first even if Durant is the headliner player.