(SP) – Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert says the team plans to give a tryout to Tim Tebow at the football/baseball player’s earliest convenience.
“We are looking to win a championship again and we need great and versatile athletes who are proven winners,” said Gilbert. “I think Tim has proven he is that.”
Having let general manager David Griffin go a week ago, Gilbert is calling the shots in the Cavaliers front office at the moment and his first major one seems to be opening up the roster to an athlete who hasn’t played basketball since the fifth grade.
“I just love to compete, and I appreciate the opportunity with the Cavaliers,” Tebow said today after batting practice with the St. Lucie Mets. “I’ll do the best that I can. I haven’t played since fifth grade and I was homeschooled then. But I regularly put up triple-doubles against my mom and I hope some of those skills come back.”
Gilbert said that while Tebow doesn’t have the “traditional” basketball skills that might merit a look by an NBA team, he is confident his “jumper velocity and dribble rates” are off the charts.
The decision all but officially ends Deron Williams’ time with the Cavaliers.
“If they’re adding a new 6-foot-3 guy with no discernible basketball talent to the roster, that’s Williams’ role,” said one NBA scout. “Maybe Deron can try baseball.”
