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[Saba Sports News] The Houston Rockets have emerged as one of the top teams in the Western Conference this season. They recently made it to the elimination round of the NBA Cup but fell short against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Despite the setback, the Rockets have a strong foundation to build upon. As the NBA trade deadline approaches, they might look to move a player or two to strengthen their roster.
The Rockets have built a promising young core but lacked veteran leadership in recent years. To address that, they added Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, and Jeff Green last offseason. These additions have helped solidify their rotation, but it has also left some players on the outside looking in.
Two players struggling to find consistent minutes this season are Jae’Sean Tate and Cam Whitmore. Though they are at different stages of their careers, both could be trade candidates. Tate is an experienced player with a proven track record, while Whitmore is a young talent with untapped potential. Moving one or both players before the trade deadline could help the Rockets optimize their roster.
Tate’s path to the NBA is an inspiring one. After going undrafted in 2018, he started his professional career in Germany before playing a season in the Australian NBL.
The Rockets gave him his first NBA opportunity ahead of the 2020-21 season, and he made the most of it, earning All-Rookie First Team honors. At the time, he seemed poised to be a key piece of the Rockets’ rebuild following trades of Russell Westbrook and James Harden.
Tate built on his strong rookie campaign with another solid season as a full-time starter. However, his role has diminished in recent years, and this season he has been out of the rotation entirely. Still, Tate has shown he can contribute when given the opportunity.
For instance, during the Rockets’ Dec. 8 win against the Clippers, he played a season-high 18 minutes due to injuries and delivered a solid performance with six points, four rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
At 29 years old, Tate remains a valuable player for a contending team. With unrestricted free agency looming and his team-friendly contract, the Rockets should consider trading him to a team that can utilize his skills. As a versatile wing defender and capable all-around contributor, Tate could thrive in a new environment. If he doesn’t fit into the Rockets’ plans, moving him would benefit both sides.