Forgotten Rockets starter could be the next one to go this season

As the Houston Rockets enter the 2025-26 NBA season, their lack of an open roster spot could result in a sticky situation as they attempt to navigate life with a lack of depth in their backcourt.

Therefore, once-starter Jae'Sean Tate could become an unfortunate sacrifice as a result of this glaring weakness, and, given the fact that his minutes have steadily reduced over the past few seasons, he could be the next Rocket on the move.

While either waiving Tate or trading him would likely clear up a roster spot, it indeed remains to be seen what sort of role, if any, he has in the rotation, and, if Houston ultimately decides he's expendable, it would not be surprising if he is not on the team by the end of the season.

Jae'Sean Tate could be moved for the sake of roster flexibility

After going undrafted in the 2018 NBA Draft, Tate first joined the Rockets in 2020 following a short stint playing professionally overseas. In his first season in the NBA, the forward looked to be an emerging player, making the All-Rookie Team and averaging 11.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists.

Yet, since that time, his minutes have steadily decreased every season. As a result of Houston's influx of young talent, including their trio of Amen Thompson, Tari Eason and Jabari Smith Jr. in their frontcourt, Tate's limited skill-set began to have less and less of a role in the team's rotation.

Through 52 games last season, Tate was down to just 11.3 minutes per game, averaging 3.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.9 assists.

While Tate has shown in the past that he can score, his lack of a perimeter shot and a serious handle make him difficult to play beyond as an end-of-bench role player.

Now 29 years old, it remains highly unclear whether there is a place for Tate in the rotation at all. With Eason and new acquisition Dorian Finney-Smith likely to take a large portion of the bench minutes in the frontcourt, Tate's one-year, $2.6 million contract could quickly be deemed expendable.

Moreover, as it stands, the Rockets have the full 18 players under contract, 15 of which have full NBA deals and three of which will be on two-way arrangements. As they enter training camp and the start of the season, a need at another position could rapidly reveal itself, leaving the organization no choice but to cut or trade one of their end-of-rotation pieces.

While it is an unfortunate reality, Tate would likely be the first to go, and such a move would simply represent the final outcome of the organization's minimization of his role throughout the years.