Tate continues his ascent
Entering his third season, forward agrees to three-year, $22.1 million deal
The Rockets last summer guaranteed the second season of forward Jae’Sean Tate’s contract for no reason other than team owner Tilman Fertitta’s wanting to reward Tate for his play and determination as a rookie.
Thursday, they did much more.
Rather than pick up the option they held on Tate’s contract at a cost of just $1.8 million, they let him go into free agency and then agreed to sign him to a three-year, $22.1 million contract, a person with knowledge of the deal said.
For Tate, the contract represents the latest tangible bit of evidence of a remarkable career ascent from playing in Belgium and Australia in his first years out of Ohio State before signing with the Rockets as an undrafted free agent before the 2020-21 season.
When asked after the season if he would like the Rockets to take the small step of picking up another year of his contract, Tate said, “I would like that, of course.
“I trust my team, and I trust the GM and front office to do what we have to do. We have a great relationship. We’ve just got to see what happens. I definitely think I’ve proven that I can play. That’s just something that will have to wait and see, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it happened.”
The value the Rockets see in Tate had been clear before the agreement on his second contract. He started 135 of his 148 games played, tying for the most starts for any player in the league in his first two seasons in 202021 and 2021-22. He missed just three games the past two seasons because of an injury.
Tate was a first-team All-Rookie selection, averaging 11.8 and 5.4 rebounds, numbers he almost duplicated in his second season. He is considered one of the Rockets’ better defensive players and playmakers, unusually effective at 6foot-4 when playing in out-of-position matchups as a small-ball center or emergency point guard.
“I think it went well,” Tate said of his second season. “It can always get better. Nobody’s harder on themselves than I am. So I’m definitely looking to improve on all areas of my game. Ultimately, just becoming a better basketball player, better shooting, more efficient and defensively, just being that anchor.
“That’s when you get better — in the summer.”
Rookie Jabari Smith Jr., the second pick of the NBA draft whom the Rockets picked up a week earlier, could provide a good balance, considering Tate’s ability to drive and create and Smith’s shooting range and length.
To Tate, the draft hauls after consecutive seasons at the bottom of the standings were payoff for the growing pains, but so was the growth.
“That’s always going to happen when you’re building something great,” he said after the season. “It’s not always going to be sunny days. Sometimes, it’s got to rain. This is something you have to go through to get better and reach our goal, whether that’s being in the playoffs or winning a championship.
“I feel like from the beginning of not only this year but last year, the guys that have been around, we took a huge step. The wins and loss column might not show that, but being out there every day and seeing the development and the growth … had over this last season or two has just been great. Going into year three, as long as we can build off what we did at the end (of the season), being competitive, play hard, we’re going to be a lot better. We’re going to be a way better team.”
Tate will remain an important part of it, with free agency Thursday very different from when he previously was unsigned looking for a job. The new contract shows how far he has come.