DARYL MOREY TIMELINE
Notable events during Morey’s tenure with the Rockets.
2006
April 3: After three seasons as the Celtics’ senior vice president of operations, Morey is hired as the Rockets’ assistant general manager.
2007
May 10: Following the retirement of Carroll Dawson, Morey is appointed general manager by owner Leslie Alexander.
May 18: Jeff Van Gundy is fired after four seasons as Rockets coach.
May 23: NBA veteran Rick Adelman is introduced as the Rockets’ new coach. June 28: In his first draft at the helm, Morey takes Oregon guard Aaron Brooks with the 26th overall pick.
2009
Feb. 19: Guard Kyle Lowry is acquired from the Grizzlies in a three-team-deal that sees the Rockets send Rafer Alston to the Magic.
2011
April 18: The Rockets and Adelman, who just completed the last season on his contract, part ways. May 27: Morey tabs Hall of Fame player Kevin McHale, a former Timberwolves executive and coach, as the Rockets’ next head coach. June 23: The Rockets take Kansas forward Marcus Morris with the 14th pick in the draft. One pick later, the Pacers pick San Diego State forward Kawhi Leonard, a future superstar, and trade him to the Spurs. Morey also gets Florida forward Chandler Parsons with the 38th pick and acquires the rights to Donatas Motiejunas fromthe Timberwolves.
2012
July 11: Morey trades guard Kyle Lowry to the Raptors for a first-round pick and Gary Forbes.
July 14: Knicks guard Jeremy Lin, whom the Rockets had waived in 2011before his star turn in the Big Apple, is signed to a threeyear, $25.1 million offer sheet that New York declines to match.
Oct. 27: In the signature move of his tenure, Morey acquires guard James Harden from the Thunder for Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb, two first-round picks and a second-round picks. Days later, the Rockets sign Harden, to a contract extension.
2013
Jan. 7: Morey signs Patrick Beverley out of Russia. The hard-nosed guard soon becomes a fan favorite. July 5: Center Dwight Howard, themost coveted free agent on the market, agrees to a four-year, $88 million contract with the Rockets.
2014
July 13-14: In a two-day span, Jeremy Lin is traded to the Lakers while Trevor Ariza is acquired in a sign-and-trade deal with the Wizards. Meanwhile, the Rockets opt not to match a three-year, $45 million offer sheet Chandler Parsons received fromthe Mavericks.
2015
Nov. 18: Months after having his contract extended and leading the team to the Western Conference finals, McHale is fired after a 4-7 start. He is replaced on an interim basis by assistant J.B. Bickerstaff.
2016
June 1: On the heels of a disappointing 41-41 season and first-round wipeout by Golden State, former Suns, Knicks and Lakers boss Mike D’Antoni is hired as Rockets coach.
June 21: Howard opts out of the final year of his Rockets contract.
July 9: The Rockets sign Harden to a four-year, $118 million extension and also add free agents Ryan Anderson (four years, $80 million) and Eric Gordon (four years, $53 million).
2017
June 21: Morey signs a four-year contract extension.
June 28: Morey caps a dizzying day of moves by acquiring star point guard Chris Paul from the Clippers in a deal that sends Patrick Beverley, Sam Dekker, Montrezl Harrell, Lou Williams, three other players, a firstround pick and cash considerations to Los Angeles. Oct. 6: Hospitality and gaming magnate Tilman Fertitta buys the Rockets from Leslie Alexander for $2.2 billion, the most an NBA team has been sold for.
2018
June 25: At the NBA Awards show, Morey wins the Executive of the Year award while Harden wins MVP.
July 8: Paul signs a fouryear, $160million contract extension.
Aug. 13: The Rockets sign free-agent forward Carmelo Anthony, a player Morey had long coveted, to a oneyear, $2.4million contract.
2019
Jan. 22: After his Houston tenure lasted just 10 games before he was exiled, the Rockets trade Anthony to the Bulls.
March 13: Morey agrees to a five-year contract extension with the Rockets after being approached by the 76ers.
July 16: Morey makes another blockbuster trade, acquiring former MVP Russell Westbrook from the Thunder for Paul, two future first-round draft picks and other draft considerations.
Oct. 4: A Morey tweet expressing support for Hong Kong’s democracy movement sets off a firestorm in China, one of the NBA’s coveted international markets. Morey soon deletes the tweet and Fertitta later tries to distance the Rockets, arguably the most popular NBA teamin China, from the missive, but the damage is done. The backlash in China, which includes NBA exhibition games being canceled and regular-season games pulled off TV, is estimated to have cost the league $400 million.
2020
Sept. 13: D’Antoni, whose contract is expiring, announces he won’t return as Rockets coach.
Oct. 15: With the team in the midst of a coaching search, Morey decides to step down as GM.