The Houston Rockets got out in front of the free agency frenzy set to begin next week and took the next step toward filling out their roster for the 2025-26 season on Friday.
After making the move to bring future Hall of Fame forward Kevin Durant into the fold, Rafael Stone made quick work of retaining three key veterans from this past season's roster that were eligible to enter free agency come 6 p.m. ET on June 30.
According to Shams Charania of ESPN.com, Houston intends on re-signing veteran forwards Jae'Sean Tate and Jeff Green as well as veteran point guard Aaron Holiday. Keeping those bench pieces in place as the Rockets look to build off of their Southwest Division title they won during the 2024-25 campaign.
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
With Tate, Green, and Holiday set to remain in Houston for at least the 2025-26 season, the depth of the bench is already being addressed. Stone and the front office can turn their attention toward whatever other trades or signings may be on their radar.
One player in particular who continues to be the subject of trade chatter is third-year forward Cam Whitmore, as The Athletic's Kelly Iko reported Friday. Per Iko, the former Villanova Wildcats standout has been discussed in several trade talks this week, and those conversations remain fluid as we inch closer to the start of free agency.
With Holiday (62 games played) and Tate (52 games played) seeing regular action for the Rockets this past season, and Green being one of the longest-tenured players in the league, Houston has veterans that Udoka knows he can count on when needed. Their importance to the team's success in that area will be more meaningful than their per-game averages.
That is an important asset to have on the roster when a team expected to contend at the top of the Western Conference has as many young pieces on the roster that need to perform at a high level consistently. These three, along with Fred VanVleet and Durant, will set the tone for the younger players on the roster when it comes to having and maintaining a championship mindset.
These signings won't look flashy compared to the moves we see throughout the league in the coming weeks, but they hold great importance for Houston as the franchise sets its sights on bringing home another Larry O'Brien Trophy.