As an accomplished NBA starter and strong defender, the new contract for Houston Rockets forward Jae’Sean Tate (three years, $22.1 million) is viewed by many around the league as a relative bargain, particularly when considering the team option for the final season.
Yet, it should be noted that the Rockets let Tate out of his earlier — and much cheaper — contract a year early, which gave Tate a sizable bump in his 2022-23 season salary. That may have made the 26-year-old more willing to work with the team on friendlier terms for the back end.
In addition, when Tate next becomes a free agent in 2024 or (more likely) 2025, the Rockets will have full Bird rights and be able to re-sign him to a larger contract at that time. That could especially be the case if Houston is successful with spending plans related to its significant salary cap space in 2023, since the Rockets would not need to be as cautious with future contract terms if they’re going to be above the cap, regardless.
