Philadelphia 76ers basketball operations president Daryl Morey was fined $ 50,000 for violating the NBA’s anti-tampering policy, the league office announced on Monday.
The fine is in response to a December 20 tweet about Houston Rockets star James Harden. The tweet, which was deleted a few minutes later, celebrated Harden’s one-year anniversary by breaking the record for assisting the Rockets franchise.
Morey told the league it was an inadvertent posting of an automated app, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Rockets CEO Tad Brown apparently responded to Morey’s tweet that night, tweeting an emoji with raised eyebrows and a hand rubbing his chin.
Morey was hired by the 76ers this off-season less than two weeks after resigning from the position of general manager of the Rockets, a position he held for 13 seasons.
Harden requested a Rockets exchange later in the off-season. According to sources, Harden originally informed the team that he wanted to be negotiated with the Brooklyn Nets, but he has since expanded his list of preferred destinations to include 76ers and other potential candidates.