As expected, the Rockets will pick up the third- and fourth-year contract options on Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun, per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. Contracts for first-round NBA draft picks are only guaranteed for the first two seasons, with the third and fourth seasons are at the team’s discretion.
Smith and Eason were drafted in the 2022 first round. Green and Sengun were first-round selections in the 2021 draft class.
Since all four are productive players for the Rockets, the decision to pick up those contract options for the 2024-25 season was largely a formality. However, it is a procedural step Rockets general manager Rafael Stone is required to do by Oct. 31 to keep them on their current deals.
Green and Sengun will earn $12.5 and $5.4 million in 2024-25, respectively, while Smith and Eason will make $9.8 and $3.7 million. The higher figures for Green and Smith are because their draft slots (No. 2 and No. 3 in 2021 and 2022) correspond with higher figures.
Green and Sengun will be eligible for contract extensions next offseason, once the 2023-24 league year concludes.
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Rockets picking up contract options on Jalen Green, Alperen Şengün, Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason https://t.co/Vp5PskjYi7
— Chronicle Sports (@ChronSports) October 12, 2023