Rafael Stone has been busy, that’s for sure.
It’s been an eventful offseason so far for the Houston Rockets, and the news just keeps on coming, as Shams Charania is reporting that the Rockets plan to bring back Jeff Green, Jae’Sean Tate and Aaron Holiday.
The Houston Rockets intend to sign their free agents Jae’Sean Tate, Aaron Holiday and Jeff Green on new contracts to bring them all back for next season, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/8yRqFRtGUz
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 27, 2025
Tate and Green’s contracts were expired, making them unrestricted free agents, so it sounds like they’ll be back in the fold with new deals. Holiday owns a team option for 2025-2026 for $4.9 million, so it remains to be seen whether Houston picks up his option or declines it and then re-signs him to the vet minimum, which for Holiday, would be $3.4 million next season at seven years experience. I’d much rather see that. Tate would qualify for $2.9 million for his five years of service if he were to be signed to the vet minimum, while that goes up $3.9 million in the case of Green, who has over 10 years (17 actually) in.
I think the best analysis for this situation came from our old friend Lachard Binkley.
For anyone wondering they are bringing them back it is because it isn’t easy finding players willing to go 10-15 games at a time not playing and still stay ready. All of these players are professionals and stay ready regardless of situation. https://t.co/dnlnyRBMNH
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) June 27, 2025
All three are stand-up locker room guys, and especially in Green’s case, serve as mentors to the young players. They don’t call him Unc for nothing.
With the roster for next season starting to round into shape, the Rockets should still have the full MLE of roughly $14 million available provided all of these guys come back on the minimum. There are still some needs. The Rockets certainly need more offense — meaning scoring and shooting, preferrably from the two-guard slot. Houston lost two of them in the Kevin Durant deal.
I also wouldn’t mind seeing another big, though that would be a luxury need coming after another guard. Steven Adams take a beating, and it sounds like the two-big lineup is here to stay. The big man will likely need time off. Jock Landale played well at times last season, but I don’t know how much faith I have in him long term should Adams or (god forbid) Alperen Sengun miss any extended time.
We’ll be back later with a look at some possibilities for the MLE.