I think that when we hear players speaking about other players, there needs to be a 'one of the brotherhood' filter. Shy of pure hatred, it doesn't make sense to blast a teammate on his way out the door - you never know when you'll be teammates with him again, or whatever. So in that context, players all saying polite things about any player leaving is to be expected (same with management right?). I think the inverse is not true though - you hear the Charlotte players being effusive in their praise for Kemba as he left the team, and creating personal tributes to him returning as a Celtic. So, maybe it's what Thumper's dad said.
That said, we also heard some good teammate things about Kryie that maybe don't have as much staying power, or get lost in the negative noise. Opening his personal shoe locker to Rozier, challenging the young guys to on court games that would benefit their handle, stuff like that. I think some of Smart's early comments after the departure were genuine. I'm as down on him as a "leader" as anyone, but still respect that he did in his own ways try to be the good teammate (inconsistently?). I don't think too highly of Lebron's leadership skills either (he was/is in an almost impossible position to be a good leader), and if that is who Irving saw as a role model in that regard - he was doomed to struggle as one.
Players who are as uber talented as Lebron, Kyrie, Durant, Kobe, etc. often find themselves in the limelight at an incredibly young age, without the off-court skills or preparation to be successful in the public eye. Knowing who to trust, who to take advice from, who to accept mentoring from, who in the organization to lean on, which existing friends are worth keeping, etc. Many of us have had the same issues, and we didn't mature in a fish bowl for the world to watch.
I'm glad the Celtics have essentially exchanged Walker for Irving. I think there will be game(s) where Kyrie would be able to win with his on court heroics that maybe Kemba can't. I get that. But I think the difference in their approach and the shadows they cast on their teammates leaves the Celtics in a better position with regard to the young players - and perhaps because of it, that game winning shot doesn't always happen with the ball in Walkers hands - perhaps it is 3 plays earlier, when one of the Js delivers successfully because of a higher confidence level a healthy locker room has fostered. If you asked me which player I want for one play with the Finals on the line, I'd be a fool to not select Irving. But maybe the team doesn't get to that last second shot in the playoffs if they have Kyrie. I know if I'm building a team that I want Kemba, for a number of reasons. I guess it's a "total cost of ownership" of a car kind of conversation. It's not just the up front stuff that matters, all the behind the scenes costs with maintenance, reliability, and such that matter - often more than the initial sticker price. I'm bummed that the roster management/limitations in exchanging the two players essentially cost them Baynes and Horford. For *this* year, that could be a big deal in terms of lost opportunity. Longer term, we'll see.