The Cleveland Cavaliers are in a downward spiral the likes of which LeBron James has never known throughout his career. At the root of the problem is a leadership issue brought on by the lack of communication between its leaders—James and Dan Gilbert.
During an ESPN SportsCenter segment, Brian Windhorst explains the problem in detail as to what has been at the foundation of the Cavs’ woes this season.
“What’s going on is a lack of communication between Dan Gilbert and LeBron James and that’s really at the root of this,” Windhorst explains. “LeBron has become more and more frustrated as the season goes along with the Cavs’ lack of interest in investing in improving this roster. Gilbert has continued to be frustrated that LeBron will not commit beyond this season. And nobody in the organization is bringing the two sides together.”
Essentially, what the problem all boils down to is both sides’ frustration with one another that’s preventing the Cavs from getting better as the teams around them have improved.
LeBron James has repeatedly said that he wants to address his free agency concerns in the summer of 2018 once his contract is up. He said as much when rumors of him listening to offers from the Golden State Warriors came up last week.
But this isn’t what Gilbert wants. He wants LeBron to commit to the team long term so that the team can make the necessary roster moves to get them back on the championship track.
Dan Gilbert is scared, and rightfully so, that if James leaves, he will be left with players that nobody wants and he’ll be overpaying just to field in a decent roster next season. He isn’t giving up that 2018 Brooklyn pick easily as it could give them a potential star in this summer’s NBA Draft.
And unless a star player signed for the long term is at the other end of a trade involving that pick, Gilbert is going to hold on to it.
Sadly, James and Gilbert truly are far apart from what each one wants.