General manager Daryl Morey leaving Rockets
HOUSTON» Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey is stepping down on his own accord, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press.
The per son spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday because the move hasn’t been announced. It was first reported by ESPN.
Morey caused an international uproar last year when he tweeted support for anti- government protesters inhong Kong. Morey tweeted an image that said: “Fight For Freedom. Stand With Hong Kong.”
His tweet was in reference to pro- democracy demonstrations in the semiautonomous Chinese territory that had been mired in escalating violence between protesters and law enforcement.
The tweet caused businesses in China to cut ties with the Rockets and broadcasters there refused to air the team’s games this season. NBA telecasts in China, however, resumed during the recent NBA Finals.
The Rockets have made the playoffs 10 times since Morey was hired in 2007, including the last eight seasons for the longest active streak in the NBA.
Morey was responsible for the blockbuster trade that brought James Harden to Houston from Oklahoma City. The Rockets reached the Western Conference finals twice under Morey but were unable to win their first championship since consecutive titles in 1994- 95.
The move comes after coach Mike D’antoni told the team he would not return after the Rockets lost to the Lakers in the conference semifinals.
Houston went 640- 400 with Morey as the general manager and won a franchise-record 65 regular- season games in the 2017-18 season. That was the second time they lost in the conference finals under Morey, falling to the Warriors in seven games after also losing to them in the conference finals in 2015
Morey is an MIT graduate who became one of the early proponents of the use of analytics in the NBA. He was always making a trade or deal of some kind and was also responsible for the signing of Dwight Howard in 2013 and for trading multiple players to the Clippers in 2017 for Chris Paul. He then dealt Paul to the Thunder before this season for Russell Westbrook.
In perhaps his most unconventional move, he got rid of center Clint Capela in a three-team trade in February and the Rockets played “small ball” the rest of the season without a true center.
Morey worked as Houston’s assistant general manager for one season under Carroll Dawson before he retired after the 2007 season and Morey was promoted to his job.