Rockets’ $100M-Plus Extension Offer to Tari Eason Rejected; Durant’s Debut Ends in Double-OT Loss; Sengun Posts 39 Points
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The Houston Rockets put more than $100 million on the table for forward Tari Eason ahead of Monday’s rookie-scale extension deadline, but the two sides failed to strike a deal, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on the “Hoop Collective” podcast. Windhorst added that the exact level of guaranteed money in the offer remains unclear.
Earlier in the week, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Houston and Eason could not overcome differences on several contract elements. All nine players who signed rookie-scale extensions this year received fully guaranteed agreements.
Front office explains Durant gamble
General manager Rafael Stone told ESPN’s Michael C. Wright the club had not planned major roster changes after its first-round playoff exit to Golden State last spring. That stance changed when a trade for Kevin Durant became possible.
“Kevin’s a very unique player,” Stone said. “He’s a high-volume, efficient scorer who doesn’t need the ball all the time and still defends. There just aren’t a lot of Kevin Durants.”
Durant shoulders blame for narrow defeat
Durant’s first appearance with Houston ended in a 125-124 double-overtime loss to the defending champion Thunder. The veteran forward missed a key free throw late in regulation and fouled out with 11 seconds left in the second overtime.
“I missed the free throws and I fouled somebody at the end. I think those two plays are the reason we lost,” Durant said afterward. He also signaled for a timeout the Rockets did not have at the end of the first overtime, but officials did not spot the request, crew chief Zach Zarba explained.
Sengun carries offense
Center Alperen Sengun, fresh off a standout EuroBasket for Turkey, delivered 39 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in the loss. “He was kind of the backbone of our offense tonight,” forward Josh Okogie said.
Long-term outlook
Despite adding Durant in a win-now swing, Houston’s young core kept the team just 21st in ESPN’s “now or later” rankings compiled by Zach Kram, which measure urgency to contend this season.
Source: Hoops Rumors
