DARYL MOREY TIMELINE
Notable events during Morey’s tenure with the Rockets.
April 3, 2006
After three seasons as the Celtics’ senior vice president of operations, Morey is hired as the Rockets’ assistant general manager.
May 10, 2007
Following the retirement of Carroll Dawson, Morey is appointed general manager by owner Leslie Alexander.
June 28
In his first draft at the helm, Morey takes Oregon guard Aaron Brooks with the 26th overall pick.
July 12
Morey acquires forward Luis Scola from the Spurs. He becomes a five-year starter for the Rockets.
June 23, 2011
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.
July 11, 2012
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 2011 before his star turn in the Big Apple, is signed to a three-year, $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 firstround picks and a second-round picks. Days later, the Rockets sign Harden, instantly the new face of the franchise, to a contract extension.
July 5, 2013
Center Dwight Howard, the most coveted free agent on the market, agrees to a four-year, $88 million contract with the Rockets.
May 11, 2017
A promising season ends in a horrific way with a 39-point home loss to the Spurs in Game 6 of the West semifinals. San Antonio rolls despite being without Leonard.
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 first-round pick and cash considerations to Los Angeles.
July 16, 2019
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 team in 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.
Oct. 15, 2020
With the team in the midst of a coaching search, Morey decides to step down as GM.