With the worst record in the Western Conference and a clear rebuilding emphasis, few things are completely off the table leading up to the NBA’s Feb. 10 trade deadline for the Houston Rockets.
However, one of those non-starters for general manager Rafael Stone appears to be a potential trade of second-year forward Jae’Sean Tate. The Rockets entered Monday with wins in two of their last three games, including Sunday in Sacramento, and Tate averaged 13.3 points (72.0% FG), 6.7 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game in that stretch — along with providing strong value in defending the opponent’s top players.
In his latest column, ESPN’s Zach Lowe writes:
I love Tate. He’s a turbocharged cinder block with the strength to jostle against centers on defense and the speed to chase guards. If Tate is barreling at you, get the hell out of his way.
He’s a good pick-and-roll screener — clever passing on the move, with a mashing post game against smaller guys on switches.
He’s probably…