A frustrated LeBron James dismissed talk of the Cleveland Cavaliers trading for Carmelo Anthony following their shock overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings.

It was reported on Wednesday that the New York Knicks had engaged Cavs general manager David Griffin in talks to trade Anthony for Kevin Love, a one-superstar-for-another offer that in theory could correct the downward trajectory of both teams. 

Though he's close with Anthony, James is not sure such a deal is the solution.

"We got 14 guys in here," James told reporters following the 116-112 loss to the Kings, the Cavs' seventh in 11 games. 

"We need to be ready every night, who we got in here. We got to play. We can't play fantasy basketball. We got who we got and we got to go out and play."

It was James who triggered speculation of a roster overhaul when he called the Cavaliers "top-heavy" during an expletive-laced post-game rant following Monday's defeat to a New Orleans Pelicans team playing without star big man Anthony Davis.

"We're not better than last year, from a personnel standpoint,'' James said in the aftermath of that reverse. "We're a top-heavy team.

"I just hope we're not satisfied as an organisation."

Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue said James met with the organisation and his team-mates on Wednesday regarding the critical remarks.

Griffin said of that conversation: "I think we both needed [it] .... I'm happy it happened."

Anthony also addressed James' remarks, saying a trade is "not something I think about right now".