Rockets decline Jae'Sean Tate's team option, expected to restructure contract

Jae’Sean Tate, a former Ohio State star and undrafted free agent, has been declined his player option for the 2022-2023 NBA season by the Houston Rockets, making him a restricted free agent, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

Despite his restricted free agent status, Charania also reports that Tate and the Rockets have mutual interest in discussing a new deal during free agency, which begins June 30 at 6 p.m. ET.

In two seasons with the Rockets, Tate has averaged 11.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game while averaging 27.7 minutes on a team chalked full of young stars.

Heading into his third year in the league, Tate is expected to earn a larger deal as a major role player on a Houston team in the midst of a complete rebuild. Though, his role could become diminished behind No. 3 overall pick in this year’s 2022 NBA Draft in Jabari Smith Jr. out of Auburn.

John Wall to sign with Los Angeles Clippers following Rockets buyout

Just hours after exercising his $47.4 million player option for the 2022 NBA season, former Kentucky star and No. 1 overall pick John Wall plans enter a contract buyout with the Houston Rockets and sign with the Los Angeles Clippers, according to ESPN’s NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski.

Other teams have been in contact Wall for his services, but the Clippers have secured the veteran former All Star. 

After putting the Kentucky basketball program back on the map alongside DeMarcus Cousins and others during the 2009-2010 seasons, the Washington Wizards would draft Wall, where he’d spend nine seasons with the organization.

During that span, Wall averaged 19 points and 9.2 assists over 573 games. In the one season he played for the Rockets, he averaged 20.6 points and 6.9 assists but will enter the upcoming season having played just 40 games in nearly three and a half years across the two teams.

Injuries have stacked rather quickly for the former All-NBA performer, who has missed significant time over the last two seasons nursing a left hip injury, and Achilles tear and subsequent infection. 

Now, not only does Wall get a payday higher than any he would have received as a free agent in the buyout – he also gets to move to a team of his choosing. A win-win for Wall if there ever was one.