Cavaliers general manager David Griffin and superstar forward LeBron James have gone back and forth this month, making public comments about what the team’s roster does and doesn’t need. Most recently, James publicly called for the Cavs to add a “playmaker” to their roster, with Griffin responding by chiding the Finals MVP for his comments.
According to Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com, however, James’ frustration with the Cavaliers’ leadership group goes above Griffin. Windhorst reports that there is tension between James and Cavs ownership about the team’s payroll spending, with sources tell Windhorst that the relationship between LeBron and owner Dan Gilbert has been “strained” due to their different viewpoints on the issue of team salary.
When James was considering a return to Cleveland in 2014, the Cavs’ willingness to spend unconditionally on talent, regardless of the luxury-tax bill, was a major factor, according to Windhorst, who reports that LeBron signed on with the team after Gilbert agreed not to limit his spending. Since then, Cleveland has had a higher bill for team salary and the luxury tax than any other NBA team, but James has grown frustrated with what he perceives to be slowed spending this season, in the wake of the Cavs’ first title.
The Cavaliers allowed rotation players like Matthew Dellavedova and Timofey Mozgov to depart in free agency this past summer, but committed approximately $57MM to a long-term deal for J.R. Smith, not to mention signing James himself to a deal worth nearly $100MM over three years. More recently, the club managed to acquire Kyle Korver in a trade with the Hawks while simultaneously reducing team salary.
James’ recent comments about not wanting the team to become complacent angered Gilbert, since they seemed to imply that the organization was making a conscious choice not to get better, sources tell Windhorst. For his part, Griffin insists that money is no object for the Cavs, if the right deal presents itself.
“We can absolutely increase payroll if it’s the right piece at the right time. I’ve never once been given a mandate of any kind relative to money,” Griffin said. “We’re not going to do something where we go ask for more money unless we believe it makes us appreciably better. … As we have all along, ownership will do what needs to be done.”
In 2015/16, the Cavs paid $107MM in team salary and $54MM in luxury tax. Those numbers are currently at about $127MM+ and $27MM+ for the 2016/17 season, as our Salary Cap Snapshot for the Cavs shows. Signing a player to their roster to fill their open 15th spot would cost the Cavs about $2.50 in luxury tax penalties for every dollar they spend. The team is also close to going $15MM over the luxury tax line ($113.287MM), in which case that penalty would increase to $3.25 per extra dollar spent.
lebron is working dan over lol
On the one hand, you’re already spending the most so what’s a bit more? On the other hand, nobody likes a crybaby.
On the third hand, you ARE (essentially) the GM Lebron. If you don’t like the team comp then it’s your own damn fault.
It’s LeBrons world! Everyone else is just living in it.
Then take a couple less million next time around.
Maybe if he didn’t sign deals to opt each yr and get a raise they’d have some money
Cavs roster was perfect before birdman got injured, and they traded for Korver. Now they need to fix that mistake b/c their defense isn’t as good for obvious reasons. This is what happens when you make trades to make trades that make no sense. Now they need a big that can defend pick and roll, protect the rim, and catch and finish at the rim, and they need another wing that can defend, shoot the 3, and be a facilitater at times (that literally describes Mike Dunleavy). Since its really hard to do that in this league, it might make sense to add a guard that can defend and shoot. Norris Cole, Toney Douglas, and Mario Chalmers make some sense in that regard, and all have played with LeBron
LeBron, you are supposedly the best player and getting well paid for it. So why don’t you just play and do what you’re paid for? You are already playing six positions including coaching. Now you want to play the GM?
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This entire “story” has been blown way out of proportion.
Lebron venting about needing another playmaker has more to do with his desire to win now without having to carry so much of the load in the 2nd half of the regular season than it does about if this team is equipped to win again in the playoffs and more specifically in the ecf and finals if they get there.
If they continue to play in burned out mode without help they will lose a lot more games and also be burned out going into the post season.
get a damn backup pg or point forward now ,you have an open roster spot
I don’t ever recall a leader (MJ, Bird, etc..) blame the front office for team’s in-efficiency. The King is not a leader and can carry a team like a true superstar. His championship ring are compliments of Wade, Bosh, Irving, & Love. Irving and Love brought the championship to Cleveland, not the so called “King”.