2 Houston Rockets who benefited least from the trade deadline

The Houston Rockets surprised many with their inactivity at the trade deadline, as they were projected to be one of the more active teams around the league. The Rockets have several positional needs and frankly should have been buyers on the market.

We'll have to wait and see how their lack of moves will affect the overall team trajectory this season, but it could prove to be challenging for several players on the roster.

Houston Rockets who benefited the least from the trade deadline.

2. Jae'Sean Tate

By now, it's known what Jae'Sean Tate brings to the table. He's a tough defender, who is capable of clamping down opposing wings, in large part because of his stout frame and build.

The Rockets, of all teams, know what Tate provides, as they've had an up-close look at him for the last four years. After all, they saw enough to give him a contract extension.

Again, they know what he can do by now.

On the flip side, his inability to shoot (among other things) is just as clear by now. Tate would've benefited from a trade, as a change of scenery is always helpful.

And for someone like Tate, who has a non-guaranteed year in 2024-25, as he's on a team option, he's playing for his next deal. The Rockets have a crowded wing rotation, despite Tari Eason being out with injury and Reggie Bullock having been deemed unplayable by Rockets coach Ime Udoka.

Tate surely would've preferred to have been traded at the deadline.

1. Jeff Green

Jeff Green wasn't expected to have a large role when he was signed in the offseason. After all, he's in his 17th season in the NBA.

Not many players are able to last as long as Green. 

And there's really only one other 37-year-old who even maintained this much of their athleticism, and he's regarded as arguably the greatest player in the history of the league in LeBron James. 

Green was supposed to be a locker room guy. And such a role would've made sense for a longtime high-level NBA player who was coming off winning a championship as a role player.

Green has been thrown into a reserve center role, as Jock Landale has proven incapable of providing those contributions. Green has shockingly started five games for the Rockets this season and has even been in closing lineups for the Rockets.

But Father Time is undefeated and we've already seen signs of this with Green, who has made just 28 percent of his shot attempts and 18 percent of his threes in the last 13 games prior to Saturday's loss to the Atlanta Hawks. 

The Rockets not reeling in a reserve center for this season only spells more trouble for the 37-year-old, as it forces him to retain the role he's had for the first half of the season.