Jae'Sean Tate May Be Best Rockets Player to Trade

The Houston Rockets could trade Jae'Sean Tate before the trade deadline.
Jan 28, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Houston Rockets forward Jae'Sean Tate (8) does an interview after a victory over the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Jan 28, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Houston Rockets forward Jae'Sean Tate (8) does an interview after a victory over the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images / Brett Davis-Imagn Images
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The Houston Rockets have less than a week to figure out what they will do at the trade deadline.

While general manager Rafael Stone has stayed adamant about keeping this team together for the stretch run, those words mean nothing without the actions that this week could spawn.

Bleacher Report writer Dan Favale lists Jae'Sean Tate as a player the Rockets could look into trading ahead of Thursday's 2 p.m. CT deadline.

"Recent victories over the Cleveland Cavaliers (twice) and Boston Celtics reinforce the Houston Rockets' lack of urgency entering the trade deadline. It'll be a big-time shock if they peddle any marquee prospects or names in chase of a blockbuster acquisition," Favale writes.

"Step-laddering their way to another playmaker, shot-creator or floor-spacer using expendable deals is more their speed...if they do anything.

"Tate has the most utility of this trio, but his $7.1 million salary is completely expiring."

Tate may be one of the more plausible players worth trading, but that doesn't mean he will be dealt.

The Rockets have appreciated Tate's professionalism through this entire rebuild, and he has come in handy during a few different times throughout the season when players were injured.

Could the Rockets trade Tate to bring in a player with a better 3-point shot? Sure they could, but will the cracks in team chemistry take a hit with Tate gone? It likely will.

That's a big reason why the Rockets haven't looked to make trades and it would be a surprise if Tate was on a different team next weekend.

The Rockets are back in action tomorrow as they host the Brooklyn Nets. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT from inside Toyota Center.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager who has been with On SI since 2021. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20.