BREAKING: Daryl Morey steps down as GM

The Rockets need a new head coach, but they are also going to need a new general manager.

After 13 years with the team, GM Daryl Morey is stepping down from the position, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

In the article written by Woj, it appears that Morey has planned this exit since the Rockets were eliminated from the playoffs last month. He will remain with the team in a small advisory role to pick out the team’s newest head coach.

This news definitely comes as a shock to Red Nation.

Morey has been a dynamic figure in his 13 years as GM. The Rockets did not have a losing record in any year of Morey’s tenure. He was also the engineer behind some of the most historic trades in franchise history, including James Harden’s trade in 2012, Chris Paul’s trade in 2017 and Russell Westbrook’s trade last season.

As for who the next GM will be, it appears that the team will promote Rafael Stone.

Stone has been with the organization since the 2004-05 season as general counsel and was promoted last April to executive vice president of basketball operations.