Will Cavs give LeBron his playmaker, and will it even matter?

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LeBron James doesn't care if he's making headlines; he wants the Cleveland Cavaliers to grab another playmaker.

Public sentiment is against James on this one. Charles Barkley - the biggest sounding board for the NBA - ranted at length about him being "whiny," while questioning his desire to compete. James shouldn't ask for more help, the argument goes, when he already has two All-Stars in Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love.

Management is also holding firm despite their star's full-court press. They did add Kyle Korver, but he's not a playmaker. And while deals are still possible before the deadline, there hasn't been any movement.

Will Cleveland give James what he needs?

The Irving-Love argument misses the reality of Cleveland's predicament. It doesn't matter that Irving and Love, along with a host of capable supporting characters, are available at James' disposal - they completely fall apart when he isn't on the floor. Cleveland is 4-18 when James misses games over the past three years, while the Cavs get outscored by five points per 100 possessions when he hits the bench.

As such, James leads the league in minutes per game - at the age of 32, through 14 grueling seasons, and fresh off six straight Finals runs, with more career minutes played than Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Allen Iverson.

The myth of exceptionalism with James - the monolithic cyborg who lords unparalleled over a generation of basketball - overlooks the reality of his situation. He is an exceptional human, but he's still human, and there are limits to his greatness.

James only has so much in the tank and he was running on empty most nights as the Cavs slogged their way through a tumultuous January. Almost every hour of his day is spent between hot tubs, cold tubs, freezing chambers, and the arena - do the Cavaliers really expect James to expend his energy in the regular season? Or do they want him at his best for the playoffs?

The Cavs argue that their hands are tied, which is true to some extent. General manager David Griffin has exhausted his future assets to assemble Cleveland's current roster. Owner Dan Gilbert has shelled out more money than any other franchise since James returned in 2014. The team is slated to pay an exorbitant luxury tax bill.

But when push comes to shove, it really only comes down to money. (OK fine, a lot of money). The Cavs have an open roster spot, another two D-league-caliber players on the bench, and two Traded Player Exceptions, plus the veteran's minimum. They can definitely get another playmaker - it will just be ridiculously expensive. Even taking on a minimum salary for half the season would cost Cleveland millions in luxury tax considerations.

Management's argument is that any marginal upgrade isn't worth the cost. No team in the league would pay that much to grab any of the misfit toys assembled in Cleveland's free-agent minicamp. Nobody wants to break the bank for a post-injury Mario Chalmers or Lance Stephenson, or a post-retirement Baron Davis or Kirk Hinrich.

But it comes back to James' workload, and it ultimately comes back to an unspoken agreement between James and Gilbert. When James returned to Cleveland, he reportedly had Gilbert's word that the team would spend whatever it takes to win championships.

James held up his end of the bargain, and now it's on Gilbert to rise to the occasion.

In an effort to keep management honest, James had been signing one-year deals to create leverage. He used that power to help teammates - specifically Iman Shumpert, Tristan Thompson, J.R. Smith - earn what they were due. But a strange quirk in the CBA threw a wrench into that play last summer; James instead inked a three-year deal as a requisite for maximizing his earning potential, putting away the hammer for one year. Now, management is fighting back.

That's why James went to the media - it was his only card. It cost him backlash, but it's also delivered results. Two weeks after James challenged management, there is suddenly a free-agent minicamp. Maybe it all amounts to nothing, but at least Cleveland is working in the right direction.

The means justify the ends. James wants to win another championship, but at this rate he might burn out before the playoffs even begin. He wants a playmaker to shoulder the burden so he doesn't need to lead the league in minutes. He knows it will cost the Cavs more than what they want to pay, but that's the price of contention.

As James said: "I ain't got no time to waste." Yet, Cleveland is wasting James' time in search of savings. No wonder he's speaking out.

Will adding a playmaker even matter?

The Super Villain Warriors are in everyone's heads, including James, who mentioned twice during his pleas for a playmaker that Golden State has more depth.

Let's be clear: James wanting more help doesn't mean he wants to avoid competition. If anything, one leads into the other, because look what he's up against - it's not exactly a fair fight.

This isn't the Warriors that blew a 3-1 lead. This isn't the Warriors that needed six games to put away James when Love and Irving were out. Stephen Curry is healthy. Draymond Green might not be suspended this time around. And most importantly, the Warriors replaced Harrison Barnes (who shot 5-of-32 in Games 5-7) with Kevin freaking Durant, while maintaining their bench pieces.

The Finals were decided by four points across seven games; Durant over Barnes is an upgrade of four points per half. The Cavs, along with every other team in the league, need a way to somehow bring down that Death Star.

Does adding a veteran point guard swing things in favor of Cleveland? Not a chance. Best-case scenario, the incoming playmaker allows James to rest a little bit more so he's fresher for the postseason. But grabbing someone like Hinrich off the scrap heap won't level the scales. That's like bringing a water gun after the Warriors developed nukes.

If there was an impact player available at the right price, Cleveland would definitely pounce. Management has shown a willingness to take on additional salary for additional talent. Poaching Smith, Shumpert, Korver, and Channing Frye were shrewd moves that improved the team.

However, it seems James is stuck with the hand he was dealt. He can only expand his legacy during the time that's afforded to him, whereas the Cavs will continue to exist long after. James wants to maximize the present, while Cleveland has a longer view in mind. This year might already be a loss regardless of what management does. That's why there's friction.

The harsh reality for the Cavaliers is they're up against Golden State's embarrassment of riches with four All-Stars and a deep bench. That's a nearly impossible proposition that needs more than just a playmaker to solve.

They need James to pull off another miracle.