Rockets expected to sign forward Jae’Sean Tate in free agency

A rugged 6-foot-4 forward, Tate played college hoops at Ohio State and played for new Rockets assistant coach Will Weaver in Sydney.

The Rockets are expected to sign forward Jae’Sean Tate once free agency opens on Friday, per Marc Stein of The New York Times. Tate played for the Sydney Kings last season in Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL), where the head coach was new Houston assistant Will Weaver.

“The rugged swingman Jae’Sean Tate, who played at Ohio State, is expected to make the move from Sydney to Houston after free agency begins Friday,” Stein writes in Tuesday’s newsletter.

Now 25 years old, Tate played his college basketball at Ohio State (2014-2018) before joining the Antwerp Giants (2018-19) in Belgium and then Sydney (2019-20) last season. While he’s only 6-foot-4, he’s strong and versatile enough to play as both a guard and forward.

Here’s how John Hollinger of The Athletic describes Tate, whom he believes could require a contract larger than the NBA’s minimum salary:

The Ohio State product had a massive year in Australia after a solid 2019 Summer League and is just 24 years old; as such, he’s quickly become one of the most highly-regarded players based outside the U.S. Notably he hasn’t re-signed in Australia for 2020-21, with signs pointing toward him signing an NBA contract, instead.

Tate is listed at just 6-4 but has a strong frame and plus athleticism; he is comfortable battling in the paint and actually played power forward in Australia. His 3-point shot (40.5 percent in Australia last year, just 27.7 percent in college) will be the swing skill for him.

Tate’s strength and versatility could be a logical fit in Houston, who have valued 6-foot-5 forward P.J. Tucker immensely in recent seasons. Tate could also help fill frontcourt minutes that previously went to Robert Covington, who is expected to be traded to Portland.

The terms of Tate’s impending contract with the Rockets are not yet clear. The NBA’s 2020 free agency opens at 5:00 p.m. Central on Friday.

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