CLEVELAND \u2014 LeBron James has alluded to flaws with the Cleveland Cavaliers\u2019 roster all season.
He got much more detailed Monday night about the cracks and crevices in the NBA champions after their fifth loss in seven games.
James urged the team\u2019s front office to do more after a 124-122 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, who were missing forward Anthony Davis.
\u201cWe\u2019re not better than last year, from a personnel standpoint,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re a top-heavy team. \u2026 I just hope we\u2019re not satisfied as an organization.\u201d
On Tuesday, James went on Twitter to explain that his comments weren\u2019t directed at General Manager David Griffin or Cleveland\u2019s coaching staff.
\u201cI 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\u2026\u201d James tweeted. \u201cIf that\u2019s what we wanna do.\u201d
After speaking to a larger group of reporters Monday night, James saved his most biting comments for Cleveland\u2019s traveling beat writers.
The Cavaliers haven\u2019t played well for weeks and James felt the need to unload.
\u201cIt\u2019s been a (lousy) 2017 so far,\u201d he said.
His biggest issue is with the current 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 last year\u2019s NBA finals and feels the Cavs haven\u2019t done enough to address their biggest needs.
James said he\u2019s expressed his opinions directly to Griffin, who recently obtained Kyle Korver in a trade with Atlanta.
\u201cWe need a (expletive) playmaker. I\u2019m not saying you can just go find one, like you can go outside and see trees. I didn\u2019t say that,\u201d 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.
Now in his 14th season, James knows that his time to win more titles is dwindling.
\u201cI don\u2019t know what we\u2019ve got to offer,\u201d James said of possible deals. \u201cI just know me, personally. I don\u2019t got no time to waste. I\u2019ll be 33 in the winter and I ain\u2019t got time to waste.\u201d
It remains to be seen whether James\u2019 public rant will spark the team. But James also knows the Cavs will do anything within reason to accommodate him. What James wants, he usually gets.
Despite their recent slide, the Cavs still have the best record in the Eastern Conference.
Cleveland is home to Sacramento on Wednesday, as well as Brooklyn and Oklahoma City later this week.
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