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NBA Free Agency: Top 5 best contracts this offseason

By Holden Walter-Warner

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - DECEMBER 25: Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz pressures Jalen Brunson #13 of the Dallas Mavericks during the second half of their game at the Vivint Smart Home Arena on December 25, 2021 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - DECEMBER 25: Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz pressures Jalen Brunson #13 of the Dallas Mavericks during the second half of their game at the Vivint Smart Home Arena on December 25, 2021 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) /
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Houston Rockets
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 05: Jae’Sean Tate #8 of the Houston Rockets reacts during the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on April 05, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Nets won 118-105, NBA Free Agency: Top 5 best contracts this offseason. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

NBA Free Agency: Top 5 best contracts this offseason: 3. Jae’Sean Tate, Houston Rockets

Jae’Sean Tate is the first player on this list to be returning to his team from the previous season. The Houston Rockets will be happy to have Tate back in the fold as their rebuild continues.

Tate re-signed with the Rockets on a three-year, $22.1 million deal. It was more than the restricted free agent would’ve received if the team picked up his $1.8 million option, so the franchise did right by the forward.

The 26-year-old isn’t an elite player, but he battles hard and does whatever is asked of him, which is invaluable to most franchises. Last year, he averaged 11.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. He was a full-time starter during his sophomore year but could be even better suited to fire the Rockets up off the bench.

He’s also one of the more durable players in the league. Tate only missed a few contests last season, playing in 78 games for the team.

Tate does have one significant problem in his game – his inability to stay out of foul trouble. Nobody in the league committed more personal fouls than Tate last season. The year before, he ranked third in the league.

Despite that, Tate is more than serviceable as a do-it-all wing, particularly if he’s coming off the bench. He could be one of the more dangerous weapons in the league as a sixth or seventh man.

For a third-year player, Tate is sneaky old – he’ll turn 27 years old at the start of the 2022-23 season. But on a three-year deal paying out less than $8 million per season on average, he can help usher in the Rockets’ next era.