Daryl Morey will get – and deserves – a number of credit score for bringing James Harden to the Rockets. However Morey additionally did an incredible job getting Harden co-stars.

Morey lured Dwight Howard to Houston. Morey engineered a posh and artistic commerce for Chris Paul. And when Paul’s relationship with Harden (and possibly Rockets proprietor Tilman Fertitta) went south, Morey flipped Paul for Russell Westbrook.

Houston gave up important draft consideration in that commerce. The Rockets went even additional to construct round Westbrook by dealing Clint Capela and making Westbrook their de facto offensive middle. That solidified a micro-ball id with P.J. Tucker and Robert Covington (acquired within the Capela cope with a first-round decide additionally outgoing) as defensive “bigs.”

However the coach who ran the mad-scientist small-ball scheme, Mike D’Antoni, is gone. The overall supervisor who constructed this unconventional roster, Morey, is gone.

Now what for Houston?

Marc Berman of the New York Put up:

With Houston common supervisor Daryl Morey stepping down a yr after his controversial retweet about China/Hong Kong, league sources imagine the Rockets are likelier to look into buying and selling away explosive All-Star level guard Russell Westbrook.

Westbrook is nearing 32, extremely reliant on athleticism and due $132,633,438 over the subsequent three seasons. His worth is derived primarily from what he contributes on the courtroom proper now.

May the Rockets – whose purpose is ostensibly nonetheless remaining in championship rivalry by way of Harden’s prime – commerce Westbrook with out taking a direct step again?

It appears unlikely. Nevertheless it’s potential. Maybe, a group presents the precise mixture of position gamers who’d higher complement Harden. The Knicks are reportedly (although they don’t have the win-now veterans).

Particularly due to the Knicks’ curiosity, I wouldn’t rush to belief this report coming from New York. This strikes me as the kind of hypothesis that tends to unfold baselessly within the aftermath of a landscape-shaking occasion like Morey’s resignation.

There have been rumors of a Westbrook commerce early final season. However that was earlier than the Rockets discovered the right way to optimize him with micro-ball. And people have been fueled by Morey’s proclivity for buying and selling.

Keep in mind, Fertitta stated he pushed his reluctant basketball-operations workers – led by Morey – to finalize the Westbrook commerce. Fertitta stays in place.

It’s unclear how new Rockets common supervisor Rafael Stone, who labored underneath Morey, felt concerning the commerce and feels about Westbrook now. The likelihood that Berman’s sources have actual perception into Stone’s plan makes this report price contemplating.

Different prospects: Fertitta – along with his monetary points – may not stay dedicated to paying Westbrook. Houston might pivot and unload its stars to get forward of rebuilding. It occurs.

However I’m not satisfied the Rockets will hand over on attempting to win round Harden. Which implies Westbrook possible stays in place.

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