LeBron James, 'top heavy' Cleveland Cavaliers management at odds over roster

LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers are at odds over the superstar's view of the organization's payroll spending, ESPN reported on Thursday, citing multiple sources.

James has been critical of the organization during the team's losing stretch, which extended to six of the last eight games following Wednesday's 116-112 loss to the Sacramento Kings.

James, who rejoined the Cavaliers in 2014, has been vocal about adding another playmaker as the team attempts to repeat as NBA champions. The superstar went as far as to call his team "top-heavy" earlier in the week and had been lobbying the Cavaliers' front office to acquire a backup point guard to lessen the ball-handling duties for himself and Kyrie Irving.

For its part, Cleveland has spent more than any other NBA team over a three-year span, and is committed to $127.6 million and $27 million in luxury taxes this season.

"I just hope that we're not satisfied as an organization," James said earlier this week.

The superstar took to social media to continue the conversation, saying, "I not mad or upset at management 'cause (general manager David Griffin) and staff have done a great job...I just feel we still need to improve in order to repeat...if that's what we wanna do."

Cleveland acquired Kyle Korver earlier this month, opening a roster spot that the team has yet to fill and reducing payroll in the process.

James elected against addressing the report Wednesday of the Cavaliers adding friend Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks.

"I have no reaction," James said. "We've got 14 guys in here. We need to be ready every night. Who we've got in here, we've gotta play. We can't play fantasy basketball. We've got who we've got and we've gotta go out and play."

"Yes, I do think he'd want me to play with him," Anthony said at Wednesday's shootaround. "I don't think he wouldn't, but I don't know if that comment was about me. I don't think I'm the only playmaker in the NBA."

Last season, James helped Cleveland end a 52-year professional sports championship drought while helping the Cavaliers erase a 3-1 series deficit against the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.