Former Houston resident Silkk The Shocker likes what the Rockets have done this offseason, and he’s especially focused on two moves that bring edge and toughness to the roster.
Houston added former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart on a two-year, $13 million deal after his stint with the Los Angeles Lakers, with the second year carrying a player option, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Per ESPN, Smart passed on a $5.4 million player option with the Lakers to make the move to Houston. The Rockets also brought in Bogdan Bogdanović on a veteran minimum contract worth $3,524,115 for one season, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Silkk, who also had a Rockets tryout in the past, said Smart’s defensive presence is exactly the kind of thing that matters when games tighten up.
“I like Marcus Smart because I think you have to have defense to win when it gets tough,” Silkk said.
He also singled out Tari Eason, who recently signed a four-year, $81.5 million extension with Houston. Silkk sees Eason as the kind of player who keeps a team connected and productive in the right moments.
“Tari is tough,” Silkk noted. “He just seems like he got better and better and better, finding his niche for the game.
You need a player like him, a real glue guy who knows how to play and get baskets. Realistically, I don’t think a lot of people can stop Tari when he really does what he has got to do.”
Eason reacted to the news of his extension on X after Shams Charania broke it, writing, “I guess bruh”
The extension also sparked backlash on social media, which led to responses from Eason and his mother, Teroya Eason. Tari Eason wrote on X, “So many opinions on my game, y'all… I swear to god, you couldn't walk a mile in my shoes.
💯 Y'all can't even be great at the lil things at your own respective jobs😭. Only no one cares what y'all do🤷🏾♂️,”
His mother then responded with a sharp message of her own: "Let me get this straight. You get online with your thumbs, call a man all kinds of s-t.
Say he has intellectual disabilities. Send death threats.
Attack his mom. Proclaim him useless in a job only 5000 men in history have held.
And when he gets online and responds, you're a 'fan,' a victim, and he's a soft p--y?! 🤣"
She followed that up by writing, "There are so many kites out there. I really need some of you to go fly them.
NOW! I don't care what kind of mom jokes you've got.
I've been on Twitter for 20 years. You'd better go talk to a TikTok mom.
This is my app. And you raggedy mfs are NOT fans."
Teroya Eason closed with another post saying, "I have NEVER talked about my team or players like this. I love the fans.
The rest of you miserable mfs in fan clothing. F-k you.
Disrespectfully," she wrote on X after her son received backlash for his comments.
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