Rockets' Jae'Sean Tate: Trade or Keep?
The NBA trade deadline is inching closer and the Houston Rockets will have to make some difficult decisions.
Among those tough choices regards the future of fourth-year forward Jae'Sean Tate, the longest-tenured member of the team.
Tate, 28, is averaging a mere 4.9 points per game this season and his playing time has never been as low as it currently is. A lot of that has to do with the Rockets being good for the first time in his career, but it begs the question as to whether he could be on his way out.
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"Internally, he’s still highly regarded by the front office, seen as a top-three defender on the roster and on a positive contract," The Athletic's Kelly Iko writes. "Because of the type of player he is, a “glue guy” if you will, playoff teams are always in the hunt. The ones that have spoken to Houston about Tate in the past have expressed that as much, but have never been willing to offer a substantial enough offer for his services. The Rockets have also never been particularly moved by letting him go because other good teams want him."
Tate aligns with a lot of what the Rockets want to identify with -- a physical, strong team defender. However, with the addition of Dillon Brooks and the development from Tari Eason and Cam Whitmore, Tate hasn't become as necessary of a player as he once was.
This doesn't mean Tate will be traded ahead of the Feb. 8 trade deadline, but the Rockets may be more willing to deal him now than they ever have before.
