As the Los Angeles Lakers look for ways to bring the best out of Luka Doncic, two critical boxes must be checked. One is to surround him with high-level shooters who can adequately space the floor. The other is to acquire an elite wing defender whose energy and intensity go without question.
With those needs in mind, the Lakers should move mountains to sign restricted free agent Tari Eason during the 2026 offseason.
Eason is one of the best young two-way forwards in the NBA. At 25 years of age, he's already cemented his status as a starting-caliber player on a Houston Rockets team that's won 50-plus games and reached the playoffs in consecutive seasons.
With a solid three-point shot, elite defensive versatility, and the capacity for growth as a fairly young NBA player, Eason is a dream fit in Los Angeles.
The hurdle will be negotiating a contract that the Houston Rockets are unwilling to counter. Given that Eason is a restricted free agent, the Rockets reserve the right to match any offer sheet he signs and thus retain his services.
Based on what Eason has proven capable of providing throughout his first four NBA seasons, however, he's a player the Lakers must be willing to compete for this summer.
Tari Eason is the defensive ace the Lakers desperately need
Eason's most appealing trait is his elite adaptability as a defender. According to Basketball Index, he finished the 2025-26 regular season in the 91st percentile in defensive positional versatility. He spent at least 13.52 percent of his possessions against each of the five positions on the floor, including 27.34 percent on shooting guards and 24.27 percent on small forwards.
The 6'8" Eason thrived while taking on that unenviable challenge, placing in the 91st percentile in perimeter isolation defense, per Basketball Index.
Eason also ranked in the 85th percentile in post defense, the 72nd percentile in screener mobile defense, and the 69th percentile in screener rim defense. He also finished in the 71st percentile in off-ball chaser defense.
In other words: Whether he's defending the perimeter, the post, the pick-and-roll, or even an off-ball shooter, Eason ranked in the upper third of the NBA in every one of those defensive situations.
Tari Eason's intensity can help change the culture in Los Angeles
Each of those truths should appeal to a Lakers team that has spent several years searching for a point-of-attack defender. What separates Eason from many players who can defend their position at a high level, however, is that his intensity is an intangible quality that can raise the standard for those around him.
Rockets general manager Rafael Stone spoke about how reliable Eason is for endless energy during an interview with Space City Home Network (h/t Ben Dubose of Rockets Wire).
"I do want to compliment him on his level of fearless fight, every game. You don’t worry that Tari is not gonna compete, and I love that about him. At its core, that’s who we as an organization are and want to continue to be. I just think he fits us really well."
Stone's comments reveal exactly why the Lakers need to take a chance on Eason this offseason.
Luka Doncic's postseason success has relied on elite wing defenders
It's no secret that the Lakers intend to build their roster in a way that reflects the type of structures Doncic has previously thrived within. That includes the 2024 Dallas Mavericks team that reached the NBA Finals, but it should also incorporate elements of the 2022 roster that reached the Conference Finals.
One of the key characteristics of both of those teams was the presence of a smothering on-ball defender who can guard multiple positions.
In 2022, it was Dorian Finney-Smith who solidified his place as a top-tier wing defender and high-quality three-point shooter. In 2024, it was Derrick Jones Jr. who did the same. Eason, a career 35.0 percent shooter, has the tools to follow in their footsteps alongside Doncic.
If the Lakers succeed in outbidding the Rockets for Eason, the Luka Magic that propelled Dallas to glory can begin to translate to Los Angeles.
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