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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- If Dan Gilbert feels like 25 of the NBA's teams are akin to the Washington Generals maybe he should try coaching them.

That's the invitation being tendered by none other than the world's most losing sports franchise.

A day after the Cavaliers owners referenced the Generals in an email to NBA Commissioner David Stern and select owners, the team routinely walloped by the Harlem Globetrotters seized a promotional opportunity. The Generals offered Gilbert a chance to coach or play in the two Dec. 27 games against the Globetrotters at The Q.

Gilbert was not going to comment, a team spokesman said.

The owner ended his Dec. 8 email -- which objected to the proposed Chris Paul trade to the Los Angeles Lakers and the idea of another star potentially leaving a small market -- with the question: "When will we just change the name of 25 of the 30 teams to the Washington Generals?"

The Generals responded with a letter to the Cavs owner: