Kyrie Irving reportedly hoped James Harden would get traded

• Kyrie Irving wanted James Harden to get traded, according to The Athletic.
• Irving was "ready" to move on once reports surfaced that Harden wanted to leave the Nets.

Once reports began circulating that James Harden wanted out of Brooklyn, his co-star Kyrie Irving was okay with it.

According to The Athletic's Joe Vardon, Irving was "eager" to see a Harden trade "come to fruition."

Vardon added that a "well-placed" source said Irving was "ready" to move on.

Irving on Thursday took to Twitter to express displeasure with Vardon's report.

The Nets did move on Thursday, trading Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers for a package of Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, and two first-round picks — a hearty return that should keep the Nets in championship contention.

Irving had reportedly played a part in Harden's desire to move on. According to numerous reports, Harden was frustrated with Irving's part-time role this season. Irving, who is not vaccinated against COVID-19, cannot play home games in New York City because of vaccine mandates.

Harden had repeatedly told reporters that he hoped Irving would join the team full-time, even joking that he would give Irving a COVID-19 shot himself. Irving has thus far shown no inclination to get vaccinated.

Combined with Kevin Durant's recent knee injury, Harden felt that he was carrying too much of a load on what was supposed to be a star-studded team. ESPN's Zach Lowe and Ramona Shelburne each reported that Harden felt his Nets experience wasn't what he "signed up for" when he was traded there last year.

Vardon reported that there was an awkwardness to Irving and Harden. Though Irving had given up lead ball-handling duties to Harden last year, going as far as to tell Harden that he was the team's point guard, they had stylistic differences on the court.

Vardon reported one instance in which Irving burned sage before a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers last year.

"Harden, according to sources who were in the room when it happened, was seated in front of his locker, watching Irving, and looked at Kyrie like he had three heads," Vardon wrote.

Irving and Harden had spoken openly about competing for championships together, but ultimately, both seemed to get what they wanted on Thursday.