For many Los Angeles Lakers fans, Peyton Watson is the big prize of what the franchise can do with their cap space during this upcoming offseason. That much is more than fair given Watson's profile as a player. Long, athletic, and can space the floor — that is what Los Angeles needs. However, they can also get that from Tari Eason.
Much like Watson's situation with the Denver Nuggets, the reason for Eason's potential exit from the Houston Rockets is simple — money. The Nuggets have a lot of their finances already accounted for at the top of their cap books. The Rockets are in a similar boat.
That is why Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report estimated Eason would be Houston's most gut-wrenching decision to make in the upcoming free agency period. The NBA writer broke down the financial limitations well.
Hughes wrote: "The Rockets are already set to pay Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengün nearly $80 million combined next season; Jabari Smith Jr. starts his nine-figure deal in 2026-27; and Amen Thompson becomes extension-eligible this summer."
Hughes added that once Fred VanVleet's upcoming $25 million player option is factored in as well, the Rockets are not in a position to freely match any offer for Eason. That is especially true by being bogged down by the contracts of Dorian Finney-Smith and Steven Adams as well.
Tari Eason or Peyton Watson would immediately bolster the Lakers' perimeter
Let's keep it a buck: the Lakers would be thrilled to see either one of these two don purple and gold next season. Is there a preference between the two? Probably.
Both are exactly the type of perimeter defender the Lakers would love to have available to them in an effort to permanently shore up that end around a future headlined by Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Offensively, Watson should have the edge.
Watson's 3-point leap in 2025-26 is incredibly promising for his fit around two ball-dominant guards. If that 41.7 percent from beyond the arc is real, the Lakers will be doing backflips to have it in their building.
Eason's 37.3 percent on 4.4 3-point attempts per game does not look all too bad either. However, it does when magnified.
Eason's percentage from deep has faded as the season has gone on. In March, the Rockets wing has only nailed one of his 28 attempts from downtown, equaling a brutal mark of 3.6 percent on those looks. Yikes? Yikes.
The ray of hope comes from the personnel in Los Angeles. Doncic should open up the perimeter a lot more for Eason than anything in the Houston's offensive system. That should allow the Rockets forward a chance for offensive success.
Watson would likely be the priority of the two. Eason would make for a more than fair pivot, if needed, though.