NEW ORLEANS -- LeBron James believes the Cavs' front office has mismanaged the roster and was critical of the organization for failing to improve the 2016 championship team.

A frustrated James, who spoke to a handful of Cavs' beat writers following a 124-122 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans -- Cleveland's fifth in seven games -- said the team is "top heavy," which means the roster is too reliant upon James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love, with not enough versatility among role players and on the bench.

James said he's raised these issues privately to general manager David Griffin, but also said after Monday's loss: "I just hope that we're not satisfied as an organization."

"This (stuff) is not like, we're not losing five out of seven because it's just now happening," James said.

"We're not better than last year, from a personnel standpoint."

There's a lot to work through from what James said over the 20-minute conversation, from his crediting of how the Warriors reworked themselves after losing to Cleveland in the 2016 Finals to James' belief that the Cavs have failed to properly replace Matthew Dellavedova, Timofey Mozgov, and, yes, Dahntay Jones.

The Cavs lost Saturday to a Spurs team that was missing two starters, and on Monday to a Pelicans bunch missing their best player, Anthony Davis. His backup, Terrence Jones, erupted for a season-high 36 points. James posted a triple-double (36 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists) and Irving scored a season-high 49 points.

The Cavs' payroll of roughly $130 million is the highest in the NBA, and yet James is frustrated that the team isn't deeper with more versatility to absorb injuries and win when a key player or two gets injured or rests.

For instance, they're 0-3 when James sits this season, and J.R. Smith is out until mid-March with a fractured thumb.

And while James said Monday night "I ain't got no problems with the front office," all of this would seem to pit James against Griffin, the architect who was just roundly praised throughout the league for acquiring Kyle Korver in a trade with Atlanta for Mo Williams, a 2019 first-round pick, and Mike Dunleavy.

Immediately after news broke about the trade, James pushed Griffin publicly for a backup point guard and a big man. A week later, Griffin said "I'm not necessarily sure we're on that page."

James also didn't offer any specific solutions, i.e. players, and seemed to acknowledge that the Cavs' trade assets are somewhat limited.

"I don't know what we got to offer," James said. "I just know me personally? I don't got no time to waste. I'll be 33 in the winter, and I ain't got time to waste. That's what I'm talking about.

"When I feel like physically and mentally, me personally, can't compete for a championship no more or I feel like I can't do it, then I won't have this problem. But until that happens, and it don't seem like no time soon..."

Griffin could not be reached for comment. It's a no-win situation for him, having to respond to James' roster criticisms.

Despite the Cavs' recent, losing ways, they maintain a 2.5-game lead over Toronto for first place in the East. They also have an open roster spot, two small trade exceptions, and the contract of Chris Andersen to move to create any more space. The trade deadline is Feb. 23 and free agents can be added for the playoffs until March 1. So there's time.

But here's where James feels the Cavs went wrong.

In the case of Dellavedova, James does not fault the front office for failing to match the four-year, $39 million contract offer he received from the Milwaukee Bucks, but for failing to have a better plan to replace him.

When it was mentioned to James that Griffin's plan (supported by the coaches, according to sources) was to have Williams be the backup to Kyrie Irving, and Williams retired, James said "Ok. Yeah. we got (hosed) with that."

But he nevertheless felt the Cavs should've done something else besides enter the season with rookie Kay Felder as the only other true point guard on the roster.

"No disrespect to DeAndre (Liggins) and to Kay, you think we can rely on them to help us win a playoff game right now?" James said. "And it's no disrespect to them. But it's like, it's not fair to them."

The Cavs lost Mozgov as a free agent to the Lakers, and replaced him with the 38-year-old Andersen. Andersen played sparingly because coach Tyronn Lue wants bigs who can spread the floor (like Channing Frye), but Andersen tore his right ACL in December and hasn't been replaced.

Then there's Jones, 36, whom Griffin literally signed with one game left in the regular season but went on to play a small role off the bench in the Finals. The Cavs chose to cut him and keep Liggins and Jordan McRae.

"He's home," James said of Jones. "Veteran, going to play hard, going to defend and he's going to make an open shot. It's not rocket science, man."

James mentioned that the Warriors won a record 73 games last season, and then remade their team. Yes, they signed Kevin Durant as a free agent, but also brought in veterans Zaza Pachulia and David West to stock their roster with savvy veterans.

The comparison isn't fair. The Cavs brought back Richard Jefferson and eventually gave Smith a four-year, $57 million contract. Because they were so far over the salary cap, they were limited as to which free agents they could sign, and any older veteran they signed would've cost millions more in luxury taxes.

Griffin traded for Dunleavy over the summer and it didn't work out, but Dunleavy was used to acquire Korver -- one of the best 3-point shooters in NBA history.

"We need a (curse word) playmaker," James said. I'm not saying you can just go find one, like you can go outside and see trees. I didn't say that (to Griffin)."

James is under contract for at least this season and next, so unlike the last two seasons, his voicing of displeasure during the regular season will not (or should not) immediately dredge up speculation that he may leave Cleveland again as a free agent.

Earlier Monday, James said it didn't "feel like" the Cavs had lost four of six. Then they lost again. Now the losing has gotten his attention.

"I'm tweeting some (stuff) tonight, too," he said. "Be ready."