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The Boston Celtics are among teams in on Rockets journeyman

By Andrew Hughes

The Boston Celtics are among several teams in on a career journeyman who found a home with the Rockets but has not been featured this season (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
The Boston Celtics are among several teams in on a career journeyman who found a home with the Rockets but has not been featured this season (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /
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The Boston Celtics are one of four teams that were linked by The Athletic’s Kelly Iko (subscription required) to Rockets journeyman forward Jae’Sean Tate — who played the first two years of his pro basketball career overseas in Belgium and Australia.

The well-traveled Tate found a home in Houston during the Rockets’ transition from James Harden-led contender to rebuilder in 2020-21 and started 77 of the 78 games he appeared in during the 2021-22 season. This campaign, though, he has been reduced to just 16 appearances with Jabari Smith and Kenyon Martin Jr. solidly dug in at the starting forward spots and Usman Garuba and Tari Eason slotted behind them.

Boston was listed alongside the Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns, and Washington Wizards to comprise an eclectic group featuring the top teams in each conference, a middling west playoff team, and a current lottery team.

What the Boston Celtics could give up for Jae’Sean Tate

Tate is an interesting potential defensive fit for the Boston Celtics given his sturdy frame and ball-hawking nature. He can cause chaos for the C’s defense and provide a change of pace to Sam Hauser as a second unit forward. Tate would make for a second undersized but physical 4s with Grant Williams already in tow, and could perhaps serve as a hedge if Williams’ restricted free agency ends up costing too much this coming offseason.

What would it take to land him, though? Well, Payton Pritchard would likely be coveted by Houston, but that’d be an overpay for Boston. Ditto for Williams even if he is due to sign an offer sheet elsewhere this summer. Danilo Gallinari’s dead money and other salary filler (Justin Jackson, Blake Griffin) would get it done if paired with draft capital. If any other team is willing to offer a first-round pick, Boston should withdraw interest.

But if the Cs could package players who won’t play in the postseason, be it because of injury or otherwise, along with a second-rounder or two, there is definitely room to bring Tate to Boston by 4 pm on February 9.

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