122 million in 5 years? Ethan is too much like Leonard. Meiji requests the Rockets to renew their contract, and Uduka also gives benefits

NBA preseason will kick off in October, and the Rockets' lineup construction mission has not been completed yet, and renewing Durant and Ethan has become the top priority for the team. With VanVleet and Jabarry Smith renewing their contracts with a cost-effective contract, locking in Durant and Ethan will provide guarantees for the Rockets' competitiveness in the next few years. It is reported that Smith had signed a five-year, $122 million contract, and Ethan's renewal amount is also expected to be in this range. However, the Rockets and Ethan's contract renewal negotiations have not yet reached an agreement, and the reason may be related to the details of the contract amount.

U.S. media "Fadeaway World" reporter Eddie Bitt recently wrote an article to highly evaluate Ethan, calling him "the most underrated forward player in the league." Bitt believes that Ethan's performance on the defensive end is extremely outstanding, full of vitality and rapid growth, and is an ideal player in the Rockets head coach Uduka system. Ethan is 2.03 meters tall, with a wingspan of 2.17 meters and a palm size of 23.5 cm, which is quite similar to Leonard's body shape and talent (Leonard is 2.01 meters tall, with a wingspan of 2.20 meters, and a palm 24.8 cm). The starting point of their careers is similar: Leonard gradually grew from a defensive blue-collar player to an offense and defensive superstar at the Spurs, and Ethan has shown the potential to be a top 3D player in just two years since entering the league.

Ethan was selected by the Rockets with the 17th pick in the first round in 2022, and made his mark in his rookie season with his outstanding defensive talent. Last season, he played in 57 games (16 starts), averaging 24 minutes per game to contribute 12 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.7 steals, with a shooting percentage of 48.7%, a three-point shooting percentage of 35%, and averaging 1.1 three-point shooting average. Although Ethan averaged 7.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1 blocks per game against the Warriors in the playoffs. The Rockets' playoff defeat was largely attributed to Jaylen Green's unstable performance at critical moments, and Ethan's potential undoubtedly adds hope to the team's future.

Durant's joining brings new tactical possibilities to the Rockets. In the new season, the Rockets' starting lineup is expected to be Van Vleet, Durant, Smith, Amen Thompson and Shin Kyung. On the offensive end, Durant will play mainly the role of shooting guard, while on the defensive end, he returns to the power forward position. In Uduka's tactical design, Durant will replace Jaylen Green and form a pick-and-roll combination with Shin Kyung. This combination is extremely threatening: Durant's outside projection ability makes the opponent dare not easily shrink his defense, and once the opponent attacks Durant, Shin Kyung's inside finishing and supporting ability will easily tear the opponent's defense. Compared with the previous Green Shin-kyung pick-and-roll, Durant Shin-kyung's combination is better in offensive efficiency and space expansion.

For the Rockets, it is crucial to reach an early contract renewal with Ethan. Ethan not only showed top potential on the defensive end, but his offensive ability is also steadily improving, and he has full hope of growing into the Rockets' starting line in the future. Considering that Durant is 37 years old, even if he renews his contract with the Rockets for 2 years (plus a total of 3 years of existing contract), Ethan is expected to replace Durant in the next three years and become the core of the team's forward line. At the same time, young guard Shepard is expected to gradually replace Van Vleet, and the Rockets' long-term lineup framework is taking shape. However, Rockets management needs to be cautious in the renewal negotiations. Taking the Warriors' case of treating Kumingga as an example, excessive price reduction may lead to dissatisfaction among players and may even cause greater trouble in the future. In 2026, Ethan will become a restricted free agent, when other teams are likely to offer high-priced offers. If the Rockets fail to lock in Ethan in advance, whether to match a high-paying contract will become a dilemma. Compared with the Knicks' OG Anunobi (5 years, $210 million, averaged 17 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists per game, and a shooting percentage of 44%), Ethan's five-year, $122 million contract is not an exaggeration. Ethan's data and potential are far from reaching the ceiling, and his defensive ability and versatility make his market value far exceed that of Kumingga. The Rockets' current lineup framework has begun to take shape, with Van Vleet and Shin Kyung's offensive organization, Durant's scoring ability and Ethan's defensive potential complementing each other. Teams need to maintain salary flexibility while locking in long-term contracts for core players as early as possible.

Ethan's contract renewal is not only a key step to stabilize the team's future, but also a continuation of Uduka's defensive system. Uduka prefers defensive players, and Ethan's vitality and versatility are important weapons for the Rockets to fight against strong teams in the playoffs. The Rockets' goal for the new season is not only the playoffs, but the competition for the championship. Because Durant's joining injects the team with immediate combat power and finalization at critical moments, Ethan's contract renewal is an investment in the future. Rockets management needs to weigh short-term and long-term interests to avoid missing out on this potential new forward star due to price cuts. As Bit said, Ethan is an "underrated superfront" and his growth trajectory may recreate Leonard's path to success. The Rockets' future depends on how they grasp every decision at the moment. At least the Rockets fans can shout five words in the new season: "Rockets Championship."