NBA trade talks, those held by fans and analysts as opposed to actual decision-makers, almost always center around stars. Particularly when they involve a team like the Miami Heat, who are expected to once again land in the league's dreaded midsection due largely to the lack of a superstar on the roster.
This discussion is different, though. While the Heat still obviously need to snag an elite at some point (summer of 2027, baby!), they should be exploring all avenues toward potential roster improvements. Like, for instance, the one the Houston Rockets may have just provided.
Fourth-year forward Tari Eason, a walking Swiss Army knife, failed to reach an extension agreement with the club and is now slated to reach restricted free agency next summer. While that doesn't automatically make him a trade candidate, it's fair for other teams to wonder whether he's happy in Houston.
Heat should absolutely make an offer that tests the Rockets' commitment to Tari Eason.
While the Rockets didn't reach an agreement with Eason on a new deal, they did put "a strong offer" on the table that was worth "in excess of $100 million," according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst (h/t RealGM). So, while they had an interest in keeping Eason, they stopped short of giving him whatever he wanted.
They also didn't really grant his publicly-made wish for a "bigger role" with "more minutes and opportunities." The Rockets went to double-overtime in their season-opening loss to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday and still only tasked Eason with 22 minutes and six shots. For context, he averaged 24.9 and 9.8, respectively, last season.
Maybe there's nothing to see here, but there's also nothing to lose for Miami to make a few phone calls to find out.
Eason could be a gold mine if the Heat are fortunate enough to pluck him out of Space City. Save for a bit of injury history, his track record is almost all excitement and little-to-no worries.
He is a shape-shifter on defense with the kind of versatility that coach Erik Spoelstra would help maximize. On offense, Eason is a capable connector, offering plenty of play-finishing, but also a bit of creation and playmaking. When he sees enough floor time, he'll typically leave his fingerprints all over the stat sheet.
This past season, his per-36-minutes averages included 17.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.5 steals, 2.1 assists, 1.6 three-pointers and 1.3 blocks, per Basketball-Reference. He was one of only 14 players to tally at least 650 points, 350 rebounds, 75 steals, 75 assists and 50 blocks, per StatHead Basketball. Everyone else on that list cleared 2,100 minutes; Eason played just 1,420.
He's the kind of player who just makes things happen. And maybe he could make a lot more happen if he found the sizable role he's hoping to fill.
If the Rockets don't want to give that to him, the Heat shouldn't have the same hesitation. They desperately need more two-way contributors in their rotation, and they could clearly use more up-and-comers to build around.
Make the call, Pat!