Rockets general manager Daryl Morey is stepping down roughly a year after his controversial Hong Kong tweet before the start of the 2019-20 season, according to ESPN.
The report details that Morey approached Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta with the idea of leaving the job following the Rockets’ playoff ouster from the NBA’s Orlando bubble, with both sides quietly organizing an exit agreement to put an end to his 13 seasons running the franchise’s basketball operations.
The 48-year-old Morey isn’t ruling out a return to the league on the team side, per ESPN, but he reportedly has an increasing interest in exploring a different professional path. It is also an opportunity for Morey to spend more time with his two children, who are taking a gap year from college during the coronavirus pandemic.
Per ESPN, Morey will remain in an advisory role to help the team complete its coaching search; Jeff Van Gundy and Ty Lue are candidates for the coaching job.
The report also says executive vice president of basketball operations Rafael Stone is expected to be promoted to GM, with Eli Witus stepping into the assistant general manager role. (NYPost)