INDEPENDENCE: Cavs owner Dan Gilbert expects to sit down with LeBron James in the coming days for their annual meeting. Gilbert told 850-AM WKNR that he views his relationship with James as a partnership.
“We go deep and talk about stuff and figure out where we need to go with the partnership,” Gilbert told The Really Big Show on Tuesday morning. “It’s really a partnership when you think about it.”
It’s a partnership that has come a long way considering the bitter divorce the pair went through in 2010 when James left for Miami. Gilbert has consistently referred to that as “one bad night” during all of their years together.
James grew irritated during J.R. Smith’s prolonged contract negotiations and seemed to pressure ownership and management to get something done. Smith eventually signed a four-year deal that could be worth $57 million.
“J.R. did his part,” James said during the negotiation. “He showed up every day. Worked his ass off every day. Became a two-way player, a model citizen in Cleveland and he’s a fan favorite. Obviously we all know that. … He’s a big piece of our team and they just need to get it done.”
Overall, James has to be pleased with the amount of money Gilbert has invested in this team. He spent about $160 million in payroll and luxury taxes last season to win the Cavs’ first championship and is on pace to spend about that much again. The Cavs will have the league’s highest payroll for the second straight year.
“We both have two common goals in mind and that’s to continue to build this city, continue to put things up, create jobs and have a winning franchise,” James said of his relationship with Gilbert. “And for me as a player, make an impact not only in the community but on this team and he’s doing the same.”