LeBron miffed with direction of slumping Cavaliers
January 25, 2017 | 10:13am
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) reacts during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans Monday, Jan. 23, 2017, in New Orleans. The Pelicans won 124-122.
AP Photo / Jonathan Bachman
CLEVELAND — LeBron James has alluded to flaws with the Cleveland Cavaliers roster all season. He got much more detailed about the cracks and crevices in the NBA champions after their fifth loss in seven games.
James urged management to do more after a 124-122 loss on Monday to the New Orleans Pelicans, who were missing star forward Anthony Davis.
"We're not better than last year, from a personnel standpoint," he said. "We're a top-heavy team. ... I just hope we're not satisfied as an organization."
On Tuesday, James went on Twitter to explain that his comments weren't directed at Cavaliers general manager David Griffin or Cleveland's coaching staff.
"I not mad or upset at management cause Griff and staff have done a great job, I just feel we still need to improve in order to repeat..." James tweeted. "If that's what we wanna do."
The Cavaliers haven't played well for weeks, and James felt the need to unload.
"It's been a (lousy) 2017 so far," he said.
His biggest issue is with the makeup of the Cavs, who have been hurt most by allowing backup point guard Matthew Dellavedova to leave as a free agent and injuries to forward Chris Andersen and guard J.R. Smith. James watched the Golden State Warriors retool after losing in the NBA Finals and feels the Cavs haven't done enough to address their biggest needs.
James said he's expressed his opinions directly to Griffin, who recently obtained Kyle Korver in a trade with Atlanta.
"We need a (expletive) playmaker. I'm not saying you can just go find one, like you can go outside and see trees," James said.
Griffin has an open roster spot and two small trade exceptions. The trading deadline is Feb. 23 and free agents can be signed until March 1 to be eligible for the playoffs.
In his 14th season, James knows his time to win more titles is dwindling.
"I don't know what we got to offer," James said of possible deals. "I just know me, personally. I don't got no time to waste. I'll be 33 in the winter, and I ain't got time to waste."
It remains to be seen whether James' public rant will spark the team. But James also knows that the Cavaliers will do anything within reason to accommodate him. What King James wants, he usually gets.
Despite their recent slide, the Cavs still have the best record in the Eastern Conference.
Cleveland hosts Sacramento on Wednesday as well as Brooklyn and Oklahoma City this week.
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