Rockets may have their ideal Tari Eason replacement buried on their bench

The Houston Rockets will be without Tari Eason for some time. They need to consider increasing Jae'Sean Tate's minutes until then.

Against the Magic on Sunday, Ime Udoka did not go that route. In a roundabout way, Aaron Holiday replaced the bulk of Eason's minutes.

That wasn't the wrong decision. Holiday responded. He had 10 points on 3/4 shooting from the field and 2/2 shooting from long range in 16 minutes. Holiday is a steady hand, and there's no shame in playing him:

But he can't replace Eason is easily as Tate can.

Rockets have a decent wing buried on the bench

Granted, Tate isn't nearly Eason. That's typically how it goes when you're replacing injured players. If you had a comparable replacement, they'd likely be in the regular rotation already.

Moreover, if Tate were just a bit taller, he'd have a much stronger NBA resume. At 6'4", he's short for a wing. Coupled with the fact that he's a poor three-point shooter, it's been difficult to justify playing Tate at times:

But he still resembles Eason more than Holiday.

Like Eason, Tate is a wing who plays with above-average intensity. He's strong despite his height with a low center of gravity, so he can guard across positions.

By contrast, Holiday is a small guard who can really only guard backcourt players. The same could be said for Reed Sheppard. The Rockets played several lineups featuring two small guards against Orlando, which runs contrary to their principles.

Should they even be playing Holiday at all?

Rockets should explore all options

Absolutely. You could even make the case that Holiday is more deserving of minutes than Tate. That's fine.

The point here is that Udoka needs to be open to playing Tate situationally. When the Rockets need a wing-heavy lineup, or when an opponent is built to exploit a small backcourt, he needs to go to him.

Hopefully, this is a temporary fix. Rockets fans would like to see Dorian Finney-Smith in action before Eason returns. If that happens, Tate will be quickly rendered obsolete.

For now, there's another potential benefit in playing him - the Rockets could bolster his trade value. Tate seems like a strong locker room presence, and there's no pressing need to move him. Still, having the option would be optimal. If Tate is someone with positive market value, the Rockets find themselves in a better position.

While Eason is out, it's worth exploring all options.