CLEVELAND _ Cavaliers owners Dan Gilbert lost at least $40 million last season, according to one report, and might have lost even more.
As LeBron James and the Cavs battle this week over James questioning the organization's desire to win another ring, Forbes reported last year's championship cost the owner $40 million. One league source with knowledge of the ledger said Friday the losses were actually closer to $50 million. Gilbert paid $54 million in luxury taxes last season.
James was asked Friday about his relationship with Gilbert.
"He's the owner of the team, I'm one of the players on the team," James said. "I think all 14 guys have a working relationship with our owner. It's not about me and it's not about him, so it's a non-issue."
Charles Barkley was critical of James during Thursday's popular TNT studio show for asking for more help despite the league's largest payroll and claimed James doesn't like to compete, a comment that upset Shaquille O'Neal _ James' former teammate.
Lue also said that idea is simply not true.
"LeBron is the ultimate competitor," Lue said. "He wants to win and when you want to win you want to get more guys in and make the team better along with myself, David Griffin and Dan Gilbert. Everyone wants to make the team better and you're always looking for ways to do that.
"I said it before, Golden State won 73 games last year and they go and add Kevin Durant. You always want to get better if you can. Right now we're not at that point so we have to play and go with what we have right now. As far as him not being a competitor because he wants more players, that doesn't make sense."
