It had been suggested last week, and now the Houston Rockets do have a contract agreement with free agent forward Jae’Sean Tate.
Per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, it’s a three-year pact for Tate and the Rockets. Financial terms were not immediately known, but the third year suggests that Houston used at least a portion of its mid-level exception (or biannual exception), since a standard minimum exception deal is not allowed to be of three years in length.
Now 25 years old, Tate played for the Sydney Kings last season in Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL), where the head coach was new Houston assistant Will Weaver. Fellow free agent newcomers Christian Wood and Sterling Brown are also 25, which should give Houston — which had one of the NBA’s oldest rosters last season — a much-needed infusion of youth heading into the 2020-21 season.
Three-year deal means the Rockets used some of their MLE. https://t.co/rOsHcKzbpV
— David Weiner (@BimaThug) November 22, 2020
I been dreaming about it…I’m just tryna real life it… pic.twitter.com/G4xgJCtkX0
— JaeSean Tate (@o_tate_) November 16, 2020
Tate played his college basketball at Ohio State (2014-2018) before joining the Antwerp Giants (2018-19) in Belgium and then Sydney (2019-20) last season. While he’s only 6-foot-4, he weighs 230 pounds and is strong and versatile enough to play on the front line.
Here’s how John Hollinger of The Athletic described Tate as part of a recent scouting report on free agents at small forward:
The Ohio State product had a massive year in Australia after a solid 2019 Summer League; as such, he’s quickly become one of the most highly-regarded players based outside the U.S. … Tate is listed at just 6-4 but has a strong frame and plus athleticism; he is comfortable battling in the paint and actually played power forward in Australia. His 3-point shot (40.5 percent in Australia last year, just 27.7 percent in college) will be the swing skill for him.
Tate’s rugged strength and versatility could be a logical fit in Houston, where 6-foot-5 forward P.J. Tucker has been valued immensely in recent seasons. Tate could also help fill frontcourt minutes that previously went to Robert Covington, since he was traded to Portland earlier this week.
Jae'Sean Tate, who the Rockets reportedly have "serious interest" in, averaged 16 PPG, 6 RPG and 2 APG in the NBL last year.
Somehow, at 6'4, he shot 73% on 2s (8 2PAG). 37.3 3PT% on small volume, 69 TS%. Thicc and athletic. Very effective as a slasher and cutter.
Highlights: pic.twitter.com/XttoDCaIrZ
— Disney Gary Clark (@Itamar1710) November 7, 2020
