Durant's likelihood of re-signing is higher than Eason's! The Rockets will not strengthen immediately: first evaluating Shepherd and Amen

On September 28th Beijing time, according to well-known reporter Jake Fischer, the general consensus is that Durant is likely to finalize a contract extension with the Rockets, whereas Eason’s chances are less certain.

The Rockets swiftly agreed on a contract extension with Jabari Smith Jr. this offseason. Comparatively, talks with Durant and Eason have been more prolonged, and the likelihood of each re-signing differs significantly.

Fischer noted that the prevailing view is Durant will most likely complete a renewal with the Rockets. His current contract is in its final year, and he has the right to re-sign before the league’s July 1 deadline (Beijing time). Under current salary regulations, Durant can add up to two more years to his existing deal, with the total contract value expected to reach as high as $122 million.

As for Eason, whether he will reach a new agreement with the team is considered more uncertain. The forward, about to enter his fourth NBA season, must finalize negotiations by October 21 (the day before the regular season starts), or he will be unable to re-sign early this season. So far, there have been no reports on progress in talks between Eason and the Rockets regarding contract terms, and the specifics of any agreement remain unclear.

Additionally, Fischer reported that after VanVleet suffered an ACL tear, the Rockets are not expected to immediately reinforce their guard lineup. Instead, they prefer to observe how Shepherd and Amen Thompson perform with increased ball-handling responsibilities. While the Rockets might add depth to the guard position later, such moves are likely to wait until after December 16, when many players signed during the offseason become eligible for trades.