Houston Rockets exercise 2024-25 option on forward Jae’Sean Tate

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported over the weekend that the Rockets are picking up the $7.6 million team option on forward Jae’Sean Tate’s contract for the 2024-25 season.

This move comes as no surprise, as it was known when Tate, now 28, signed a three-year contract worth $20.63 million in 2022, the final year of which could be used as currency. If the Rockets had included Tate in a deal last season, or if they do so this season, for salary equalization purposes, the receiving team could realize immediate savings and tax relief by waiving Tate. A playoff contender in need of depth on defense could also be interested in Tate.

Tate, who averaged 4.1 points and 3.0 rebounds last season while averaging 47.2 percent shooting, was once considered a building block for the rebuilding Rockets when the team’s rebuilding project franchise began after the trade of superstar point guard James Harden. Tate is a tough defender and capable playmaker and, by all accounts, a great asset in the locker room. But he never managed to improve his long-range shooting, a flaw that significantly limited his offensive effectiveness. Tate shot just 29.9% from long range last season in 2023-24. He shot just 30.6% from long range during his career.

It’s hard to see where playing time will come from for Tate, who saw his playing time per game drop from 21.8 in 2022-23 to 15.9 in 2023-24. Jabari Smith Jr. and Dillon Brooks are both expected to return as the team’s starting forwards and sophomore wings Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore will need more playing time for each player’s respective development. Recently selected Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard should absorb any excess playing time in the backcourt that might have gone to Whitmore with the return of Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet. It is even possible to imagine that recently acquired forward AJ Griffin, whom the Rockets would have loved in the 2022 draft, would move ahead of Tate in the hierarchy.

Tate’s purpose on this list next season is the same or similar to that of Jock Landale and Jeff Green, both of whom are expected to return. Serve as a significant salary cap for salary-matching purposes under the league’s collective bargaining agreement rules. It’s no secret that the Rockets are expected to go big-game hunting this upcoming season with their treasure trove of future draft picks recently acquired from the Phoenix Suns and their impressive collection of young talent, all still on rookie contracts. But for a deal to work, especially since the Rockets are over the salary cap, they’ll need to include significant salary cap amounts. Enter Tate.