Jae'Sean

Tate

Finney-Smith will miss a second consecutive game due to left ankle injury management. Reed Sheppard and JD Davison both surpassed 20 minutes in Tuesday’s win over the Bulls, while Jae’Sean Tate played five minutes. While Sheppard is already rostered in standard leagues, there’s no need to leap Davison or Tate.

Tate is good to go after initially being questionable with a left wrist contusion. However, being available does not guarantee that he’ll see any action. Leave Tate on the waiver wire.

Tate will be available for Wednesday’s game, and it could be a matchup in which he sees time. The Warriors only have one true big man playing consistent rotation minutes (Quinten Post), and the Rockets won’t have Steven Adams (ankle). Tate won’t be worth streaming in fantasy leagues, but he’s worth watching with Tari Eason (oblique) also out.

Tate has not been a consistent member of the Rockets’ rotation this season, so his absence will not affect fantasy basketball. However, it does leave them down another frontcourt option, as Tari Eason (oblique) is already out.

Initially announced to have suffered a hip injury during Friday’s win over the Trail Blazers, Eason has been diagnosed with a strained oblique. While Jeff Green could move into the rotation, it’s just as likely that Josh Okogie and Reed Sheppard will absorb some of the minutes that would have gone to Eason. Jae’Sean Tate is another possibility, but he has not recorded double-digit minutes in any of his seven appearances this season.

Tate will be available to make his season debut after missing Tuesday’s game against the Thunder. If Tate sees the floor, he will only play a minimal role off the bench.

Tate missed the season opener, and Ime Udoka’s hope was to have him back for this game. There is a chance, though his role in the rotation will likely be limited, if he sees the floor at all.

Still recovering from offseason ankle surgery, Tate did not play at all during the preseason and will not be available for Tuesday’s opener against the Thunder. However, he appears close to a return, with Udoka saying the team hopes to have Tate available on Friday. He can fill multiple roles, providing frontcourt depth off the bench, but there isn’t much to gain from rostering Tate in fantasy leagues.

Tate, who underwent right ankle surgery during the offseason, is not ready to return to game action. He did not offer fantasy value last season, and that’s unlikely to change in 2025-26, especially with the offseason additions to the Rockets’ roster.

It was reported earlier Monday that the Rockets intended to bring back Tate, Jeff Green, and Aaron Holiday. Contract details regarding the former have now been reported, with Tate expected to earn $3 million. He appeared in 52 games last season, averaging 3.6 points and 2.3 rebounds in 11.3 minutes. With Houston adding Kevin Durant via trade, Tate’s playing time is unlikely to change much in 2025-26. For that reason, he won’t be worth selecting in fantasy drafts.