The Houston Rockets’ 2022 draft class was one of the most important classes of their recent rebuild. The team was coming off a 17-55 record followed by a 20-62 record in back-to-back seasons.
The franchise picked up the third and 17th overall picks in the same class and selected Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason, with Smith sliding to number three, despite initially being predicted to be the first overall pick.
Smith had a breakout finish to the season and showed significant improvement in his sophomore year. As for Eason, he played all 82 games as a rookie but suffered a serious leg injury that limited him to just 22 games in his sophomore year. Eason could have a big year in 2024-25, as his long-term role with the team is unclear.
However, his talent is undeniable. At least to anyone who knows his game. In fact, Eason was cited by Kyle Delaney of FanSided as one of the three “underrated” that deserve your attention.”
Delaney’s synopsis of Eason is below:
“Tari Eason’s averages aren’t immediately obvious. However, his impact on the game is undeniable.
The 6-foot-10 forward from LSU averaged 9.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game in his freshman season, and was third on the team in rebounding behind Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Sengun. Tari Eason isn’t a great shooter in the sense that he makes three-pointers off the dribble every night.
He is a great basket grabber in the sense that he will smash the glass to grab the offensive rebound, which usually results in an easy layup. He uses his athleticism in transition to get past bigger defenders.
He’s comfortable shooting catch-and-shoot three-pointers. He’s a versatile player, willing to fill the lane and make plays above the basket. That, combined with his 7-foot-4 wingspan, puts Eason in an elite category of players.
He’s an underrated player to watch next season. Overall, if Eason can stay healthy, fans and opponents alike will realize his exceptional talent.
As we’ve already mentioned, the long-term future of Eason and many of the Rockets’ young prospects with the franchise is unknown at this point, as the team views itself as a winning team and doesn’t necessarily want to continue to draft early and develop young talent. Plus, the team wants to land a formidable superstar, and you know what that means.
Someone will have to be sold, as you usually have to sell a good package to get a good return on your investment. Additionally, several of the Rockets’ young prospects are eligible for rookie extensions, while others will be eligible in due course. Assuming he’s fully healthy, Eason could be a key player for the Rockets next season.
