NBA News: Tension In Cleveland Heats Up As LeBron James, Dan Gilbert At Odds Over Payroll

It looks like trouble seems to be brewing again in Cleveland. Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James and owner Dan Gilbert are not seeing eye to eye and seems to be not on the same page.

A day after LeBron James met with his Cleveland Cavaliers teammates and general manager David Griffin, ESPN's Brian Windhorst reports that James and Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert are at odds regarding the team's spending on payroll. In James mind, the Cavaliers have stopped spending money after winning the franchise's first championship last year. Owner Dan Gilbert thinks otherwise.

LeBron James criticisms of the Cleveland Cavaliers current roster reportedly did not sit well with Dan Gilbert. Gilbert spent $161 million in payroll and luxury tax last season, an NBA record. The money Dan Gilbert spent seems to be not enough for LeBron James. As a result, the disagreement has reportedly strained James and Gilbert's relationship.

As far as LeBron James is concerned, he and Dan Gilbert had an understanding when James returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014. James spoke to Gilbert about his willingness to spend entirely to make the Cavaliers a championship contender. Gilbert agreed and James went on and joined the Cavaliers.

Two years later, the Cleveland Cavaliers finally won their first title. This season, however, has not been what LeBron James expected it to be. Though the Cavaliers started the season strong in Nov. and Dec, Jan. is a different story as they are struggling and are in midst of a slump. Including Wednesday night's overtime loss to the lowly Sacramento Kings, the Cavaliers have lost 6 of their last 8 games.

As ESPN reported, all these losing has frustrated LeBron James as he blasted the Cleveland Cavaliers current roster and front office's commitment on winning a second straight championship. David Griffin and LeBron James met on Wednesday before the Cavaliers loss to the Sacramento Kings. Griffin spoke to reporters after the meeting and said that James' criticisms are "misguided", that the Cavaliers are happy with the current roster and will not make any moves, and that the team needs to improve "from within".

Tags

LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dan Gilbert, David Griffin, Payroll, NBA

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