Given how it transpired, a lot of people were interested in the Kyrie Irving trade controversy. But James Harden doesn’t fit into that description.
After numerous seasons of failure, the Dallas Mavericks have finally acquired an All-Star to team alongside Luka Doncic. Although this team is frequently the subject of free agency negotiations, no target has ever shown interest in them.
Given this context, it should be clear that a trade is their only option for enhancing their roster. The acquisition of Kyrie Irving, though, may turn out to be a major mistake in the future.
In return for Irving, Dallas sent Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie, and draught compensation to Brooklyn. For the Nets rather than the Mavericks, most NBA fans would rate this deal as a success.
Now, if the Clippers face Dallas in yet another playoff series, Kawhi will just hunt both of their star players in ball-screens down the stretch
Shane Young (@YoungNBA) February 5, 2023
That desire to win now in Dallas was never more evident than it was in winning the race for Kyrie, writes @ShamsCharania. https://t.co/Me3kcAZqGo“>https://t.co/Me3kcAZqGo pic.twitter.com/ljWZrkuWKe
The Athletic (@TheAthletic) February 6, 2023
James Harden Provides a Lukewarm Response When Asked About the Kyrie Irving Trade
The New York Knicks defeated the Sixers Today After Falling Behind by 21 Points in The First Quarter. It Was Also the Second Time This Week that Doc’s Squad Has Let a 20-Point Lead Slip, and It Was Their Biggest Victory of The Year.
James Harden only attempted 12 shots tonight, so he wasn’t extremely efficient when it came to scoring the ball. But he did have 12 assists. In the 10 minutes that they didn’t have him on the floor, the Sixers were down 26 points.
Given the situation, it seems logical that Harden arrived at the post-game press conference in a gloomy frame of mind. And it was anticipated that he wouldn’t be quite ready to discuss his trade, especially after a defeat, considering his chilly relationship with Kyrie since his final days in Brooklyn.
James Harden was passive-aggressive when asked to remark on the deal that occurred earlier this afternoon. He made the comment that the trade “definitely happened” and then left it at that.
James Harden not expansive on his former teammate Kyrie Irving’s being traded to Dallas:
“It’s a trade that happened.”
Stefan Bondy (@SBondyNYDN) February 6, 2023
Kyrie Irving, the biggest team cancer in American sports, is also worth reading: As the former Nets guard joins Luka Doncic’s Mavericks, NBA Reddit rips him to pieces.
Why Don’t Kyrie and Harden See Eye to Eye?
When Kyrie declined to receive the Covid-19 shot at the start of the previous season, Harden reportedly became irate. He was right to think that the Nets’ ceiling was being hampered by his lack of availability.
Harden would have undoubtedly appreciated the assistance Irving might have offered when Kevin Durant suffered a prolonged injury. But Kyrie didn’t waver in his resolve to forego the vaccination.
The conflict between the two reached a breaking point when it became unmanageable. Immediately after Harden asked for and received his trade to Philadelphia, Kyrie began attacking his former teammate in the media.
Given everything, it should come as no surprise that Harden and Kyrie aren’t the greatest of friends. One speculates what they would have accomplished if they had been able to remain as a unit in Brooklyn.
