Draymond Green Calls Nets' Joe Tsai 'Petty' for Not Trading Kyrie Irving to Lakers

Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green thought Brooklyn Nets majority governor Joe Tsai was being "billionaire petty" for not wanting Kyrie Irving to be traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Green discussed a report by NBA insider Marc Stein about how Tsai was aiming to get Irving on any team other than the Lakers, where the eight-time All-Star was looking to land:

Given all the games missed during Irving's three-and-a-half-year run—most notably his refusal to get the COVID-19 vaccine amid New York City's coronavirus guidelines and getting suspended after promoting an antisemitic film on social media and failing to disavow antisemitism when clearly given an opportunity to do so—you can understand why ownership didn't want to go above and beyond by accommodating him one more time.

But the Nets had a compelling reason independent of Irving's wishes to accept the Dallas Mavericks' best offer.

According to Bleacher Report's Chris Haynes, Los Angeles was willing to send Russell Westbrook and first-round picks in 2027 and 2029 to Brooklyn. Jovan Buha of The Athletic reported the Lakers weren't prepared to include Austin Reaves and/or Max Christie unless Irving agreed to a two-year extension in conjunction with the trade.

What the Nets received from the Mavericks (Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith and draft compensation) is arguably a better package given their priorities.

Dinwiddie and Finney-Smith can help Brooklyn still push for a playoff position, and that in turn could entice Kevin Durant to stay beyond this season and not request a trade. In the event Durant wants out and the front office has to blow it all up this summer, Dinwiddie and Finney-Smith could become good trade assets.

Ultimately, Irving still has the opportunity to make his way to Los Angeles. He's a free agent in the offseason, so he can simply sign with the Lakers then.

If that happens, Tsai might still take some pleasure from having made the 30-year-old wait a few more months for a dream move.