Rockets owner confirms return of GM Morey

Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta confirmed Tuesday that general manager Daryl Morey will return next season and choose Mike D'Antoni's successor.

"Daryl Morey's job is safe," Fertitta said, according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. "I'm sure he's going to pick the right head coach."

Though Morey is leading Houston's head coaching search, Fertitta added that he would have the final say on any decision.

"It begins and ends with the general manager. That's why you have a basketball operations team," Fertitta said. "They'll make a recommendation to me. I'm the sign-off guys. I wouldn't know how to interview a basketball coach."

D'Antoni announced Sunday that he won't return after four seasons as the Rockets bench boss. The two-time Coach of the Year was on an expiring deal after failing to agree to a contract extension with the club prior to the 2019-20 campaign.

His decision to leave the organization came one day after Houston's season-ending loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

D'Antoni was open to returning to the Rockets but didn't hear from Fertitta following the club's loss to the Lakers, sources told The Athletic's Kelly Iko and Sam Amick.

Before D'Antoni boarded the team plane back to Houston, he instructed his agent to let the Rockets know mid-flight of his decision, Iko and Amick report.