Kofi Inkoom
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Rockets are opting to keep forward Jae’Sean Tate for next season, picking up his $7.6 million team option for 2024-25.
Since joining the Rockets in the 2020-21 season, Tate has been a solid contributor, averaging 9.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists across 244 games, 151 of which he started.
Despite this, his playing time has diminished over the past three seasons, and last season he averaged just 15.9 minutes per game.
While the Rockets could retain Tate as a reliable backup, they might also use his salary to facilitate trades.
Houston has been vocal about its desire to add star power to the team, and Tate’s $7.6 million contract could be useful in trade negotiations this offseason or before the trade deadline.
Similarly, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Rockets also exercised Jeff Green’s $8 million team option and guaranteed Jock Landale’s $8 million salary for the same purpose.