Ethan s new contract negotiations are in stagnation

The start time of the 2025-26 regular season of the NBA new season is also the time window for the first round picks of the 2022 year-old contract renewal. Ethan, a player who was previously regarded as "untouchable" by the Rockets, is currently in a stagnant negotiation.

For the Rockets, this list includes two players who are about to enter their fourth season of their career, Jabarri Smith Jr., and Tari Ethan, who was selected with the 17th pick in the first round. On the last day of June, Jabarri Smith Jr. signed a five-year early contract extension with the Rockets.

And the management has not yet determined Ethan's contract, mainly because the problems he is currently facing are his durability and Rockets' cap space. Although his potential is enough to get him a contract that is even higher than Jabarry Smith Jr., Ethan's dynamic defense and aggressive conversion offense make him valuable, but at the same time his limitations in the half-court offense may limit his future salary cap.

In the past two seasons, Ethan's frequent leg problems have caused him to play only 79 games in the regular season in these two seasons. The player from Louisiana State has never played more than 25 minutes in the NBA.

Another reason is the salary space for the next three seasons. Van Vreett has just signed a two-year contract renewal. It is reported that Durant and the Rockets management have reached an oral agreement. The new contract is about 112 million in two years, and Finney Smith has a four-year contract of 53 million. Most importantly, Amen Thompson's contract negotiations will also begin in the new season. Last season, he was selected into the league's best team as a sophomore rookie, and his contract must not be underestimated.

As a result, Ethan's contract extension is a bit awkward, and league experts have given a compromise plan, suggesting Ethan either accept a shorter contract first, or simply wait until 2026 to become a restricted free agent in order to obtain a larger contract after less concerns about durability.

According to media sources, all teams in the league are currently in a loss state, and each team is cautious in dealing with the players' salary issues. However, what makes the management happy is that after four years of reconstruction, the Rockets are currently in a complete lineup, and their defensive ability ranks at the forefront of the league. In the just-concluded season, their defensive efficiency is 111.7, ranking sixth in the league.