Vince Ellis

Detroit Free Press

MALIBU, Calif. – Tom Gores is relaxed.

Seated in the living area of his home just off the Pacific Coast Highway, it’s a relatively quiet Friday evening.

His three teenaged children are entertaining friends throughout the beach home.

Business is good. At 52, he is one of the wealthiest men in world. The private equity firm he founded in 1995, Platinum Equity, just closed a $4-billion deal for a Columbus, Ohio-based power products company.

And things are looking up for the team he purchased in 2011 for $325 million, the Detroit Pistons.

The team is coming off the first playoff appearance of his tenure, and with a collection of young talent, the Pistons go into next season with expectations — and one of the largest payrolls in the NBA.

Off the floor, with the Red Wings’ Little Caesars Arena slated to open in 2017 and an eagerness from Detroit officials for another player in the city, the possibility remains that the Pistons could move downtown.

Gores and Cleveland Cavaliers owner and Quicken Loans founder Dan Gilbert have thrown their weight behind bringing a Major League Soccer team to Detroit, and Gores says of the initiative: “We think a soccer franchise in Detroit could be really good. And I think we’re going to get it there, one way or another.”

That was just one of many topics Gores addressed with Free Press sports writer Vince Ellis during an exclusive interview that lasted just under an hour.

From wanting to be part of Detroit’s comeback, to the Pistons’ burgeoning payroll, to lauding the rebuilding efforts of Pistons czar Stan Van Gundy, Gores is bullish on the future.

Questions were edited for clarity.

Q: The last time we visited, it was the night the Pistons were eliminated from the playoffs at the hands of the eventual NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers. You noted your stomach wasn’t feeling well. The loss bothered you that much?

Gores: “It’s never at all costs, but I am competitive. The thing about winning with a sports team, especially in Detroit, is you can do more and more for the community, so they are attached. It’s not just to hold up a championship or just to win. It’s also the power it gives you to do good things for the community. They’re really attached because a championship will come and go. Look, I’m responsible at the end of the day, I’m responsible for the team. We always say it’s a community asset so when my stomach was hurting, it was, ‘Good season, Tom.’ A lot of people said that to me, and I know we had a really good season. We made the playoffs and I’m very, very happy about that — very proud of the team’s effort and the progress Stan had made, but I was hurting.”

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Q: Really?

Gores: “Honestly, after a loss like that or almost any loss, I sit around and we talk to folks and stuff, but really I want to go be in misery for a while because I really don’t like losing. But it’s important to keep it in perspective. One of the things in that situation that makes my stomach hurt more is you see all the hard work the players put in, you see how Stan is. You see his effort, so you get to a place where you want to win for them, too.”

Q: Was it something about the series or was it the finality?

Gores: “The finality. We played Cleveland. We knew the chances of (a series win) would be tough. We’re playing LeBron (James), we’re playing Cleveland. I think we showed a little bit of our youngness. There was probably a couple of games we could have finished, but to me it also showed me, tasting that want to win. There wasn’t anything in particular other than it was done. We revolve, and I revolve the whole season around our Pistons team. So it’s the end of an era — for that year. My whole family has withdrawals a little bit when the season’s not going. But it’s all that hard work that accumulates.”

Q: Describe the scene when you watch games at home.

Gores: “If we’re having a bunch of family and friends over, we have a bigger room, we just all sit there and watch the games. If it’s just (immediate family), there’s a little room and we just put the TV on from pregame to the end to the postgame and take it all in. During that time I try to shut everything down so I can concentrate and enjoy it.”

Q: The Pistons appear to be on the rise. With downtown Detroit becoming more of a destination, it appears the time could be ripe for a move. You’ve never closed the door, but can you quantify the importance of the next year for the franchise?

Gores: “I think last year was the beginning of the important years. I think we began to set the course last year. We proved a point. We got into the playoffs. I really like the way we finished with the roster with (forward Tobias Harris) coming in. This year, everybody’s a year older, we’ve got the core set with our folks, so it’s an important year that we prove that we are making progress. I’ve always said patience with progress, so this is an important year because they really just jelled last year, if you think about it. Tobias was new, what a steal with (forward Marcus Morris), (point guard Reggie Jackson) as a true starter in his first year. (Shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope) is still a young man. (Forward Stanley Johnson) just turned 20. This a very young team and very, very talented. … It’s an important year for everybody to keep developing, and that’s what Stan’s been focused on, not sitting still to make sure everybody’s got a place to improve. … We have a very focused group. There’s nobody in the locker room that’s a problem for us. These are good guys.”

Q: What can you say right now on the potential to move downtown?

Gores: “We’ve always been open-minded. I’ve always respected (Mike and Marian Ilitch) in terms of what they’re doing. We do have an understanding of some of the things they’re developing down there. There’s a lot going on downtown. …”

Q: Dan Gilbert is doing a lot of business there.

Gores: “Dan (Gilbert), as well. Dan and I have been talking about the soccer team. Whatever we do, I’d like to be that third piece of the triangle between Dan and the Ilitches and then myself to really finish bringing the city together. I think we can do that. I think we have a lot of value to add. Not just the basketball team, but our business expertise. There’s a ton going on and Detroit is getting close to being in the red zone. I don’t know if we’re there quite yet, in terms of the city coming back, but we’re not on the other 20. (Detroit is) getting close, and I think I can be helpful there. We’re staying open-minded and I’ve always said in terms of the Ilitches and what they’ve meant to the city, I think definitely we could be good partners for each other. So we’re evaluating everything and I think we should. I’ve been paying attention to a lot going on in downtown Detroit.”

Q: With a possible KCP extension, you could threaten the luxury tax line (an NBA mechanism to curtail teams’ spending). Thoughts on being a luxury taxpayer?

Gores: “Look, if we weren’t building a core, there’s really no point in paying the luxury tax. Because we are building a core, would I do it? Yeah, absolutely. This is a tremendous team. If you go down the line, player by player, and especially our young folks, these are real players. You look at KCP as a very diverse player. He keeps working at his game and you look at his improvement and just like anybody else, he will improve in other areas. Part of Stan’s coaching philosophy obviously is defense. So you say go into the luxury tax for nothing, then that would be silly because then we’re putting the franchise behind. But given that we have such a good core, if that’s what it took, and we feel we’ve made such progress this year, I wouldn’t hesitate to do it because we want to keep getting better.”

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Q: It’s almost like the decision is made for you.

Gores: “Exactly. This is a group of guys that has that chemistry. You could have the skills, but if you don’t have the chemistry, that wouldn’t make sense. I’ve seen these guys together a lot, and having grown up in Flint, I’m always able to read energy, see how folks are getting along and so on. They really have a nice energy with each other. I can say down the line I really haven’t seen a real selfish quality. … I think we have a group of unselfish guys, willing to come together. Stan doesn’t like selfish, either. He runs a culture of a team. A team is not one man. We’ve only got a few people in the league that can do it on their own. I like this group.”

Q: Team president-coach Stan Van Gundy has completely overturned the roster (only Drummond and Caldwell-Pope remain from May 2014). Did you expect the quick turnaround?

Gores: “He’s done a great job. First of all, he’s brought the organization together. He hired (general manager) Jeff Bower. A lot of people questioned Stan coming, in terms of could he really be a president and a coach. And I’ve seen him be a president and a coach, but also a leader and an executive that really understands how to run a business. He’s running the business of basketball. He’s done an excellent job. During the season, it’s a very hard job, but his partner, Jeff Bower, really keeps him informed. He knows what Stan wants. He doesn’t have to call Stan and figure out what he wants so they’re very in sync. … We have this open communication, so I’m not sure that anybody coming into the situation they came into with us, I’m not sure anybody else could have done a better job than Stan. Stan and I had the dialogue all the way through, even building out his organization, but Stan also has the ability to openly communicate. He really has a great way of communicating. He talks out loud a lot, which for me, it helps. He’s able to talk and discuss things that he may not even agree with. I throw out ideas all the time where I’m not sure they’re great ideas or not, and Stan does the same thing and I think that’s part of a good leader. You throw ideas out and everybody discusses them. It’s really been great to watch. Not only did we get a great basketball man, we got an executive, we got a leader. We got a great family, the Van Gundy family is incredible. We got a lot of things in one guy. I think he’s just beginning. I’ve heard people say is he better GM than he was a coach …”

Q: The media always compares.

Gores: “I think he did such a good job at both, you can’t help but compare them, but each one individually, I think he did a really nice job and he’s brought the roster together. You can ask the players. They trust him, and they respect him, and Stan respects them. It doesn’t mean they always agree.”

Q: You were able to fill holes in free agency at point guard (Ish Smith) and power forward (Jon Leuer). Were they filled to your satisfaction?

Gores: “I think Stan evaluated where we could have done better (last season) and I think building the bench was key. I have not met Ish (Smith) yet. I will meet him, but I understand he has great energy. He’s very well-liked. He’s quick and all, but I think it’s important in that position to have good energy. It’ll only be helpful to Reggie coming in and backing him up. We’re bringing good energy in. I think Stan and Jeff worked all of that. Stan’s big thing is how do we compete with every lineup? The NBA is getting a little more complicated in a way with these small lineups and so on. Part of competing is dealing with all of this, the different lineups. If you look at (Stan’s) board, he’s got hundreds of scenarios, but the hundreds of scenarios as a coach converts to what Bower looks for. And that’s some of the magic that’s in there where they sit down and they really talk about all the scenarios and why did we lose certain games last year, and then they match that with the kind of players that they want.”

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Q: You did make a push for big-time free agent Al Horford (Grand Ledge), but he picked the Celtics. Progress that you were in the room with a max-contract type player?

Gores: “A lot of people said you can’t get a meeting. We all know that Al’s a great player. Very professional player, too. … We have enough momentum happening and we have a good group of players because nobody wants to go into a bad situation. … I think we have enough momentum that we actually have seats at the table, but at the same time I think oddly it’s working out that we have our core group with the complement of the bench. I think we have momentum as an organization. People know that we care. I think they know Stan has things under control on the floor and if they move to our house, this house is under control. It’s under control and there’s a big future here.”

Q: Drummond gets his max deal after waiting a year to help the team’s cap situation. The relationship and trust you two have developed played a role his decision. Your impact go beyond signing checks?

Gores: “I have to do that because signing the checks, a lot of people could do that. I have to create some intangibles and that’s what I want to do. … I can’t just be the father that makes sure the bills are paid or whatever it is. I have to create more value than that, and that’s the way I see myself as an owner. I really have to create trust, I have to create respect. The players are always in this situation (where) they’re known as great basketball players and assets, but the ones I’ve gotten to know on my team, I’m biased to them, but they’re good guys. They’re good people. In Andre’s and I’s case, we developed a relationship over four years. I knew him at 18.”

Q: It comes naturally for you?

Gores: “It’s a total natural relationship. I can call Andre right now and tell him to come over. We’ll play pool, we’ll just hang and so it’s a very, very natural thing. You have to be willing to invest in that. Players are pretty smart. They know when you’re investing or you’re not. … One of my goals is to make sure that if a player comes to Detroit, whether it’s for a day or 20 years, that it is a good experience and we respect each other, and that there is trust established. Andre and I have been able to do that and at the same time, Andre’s really good at putting a hand out. He’s really good at it. He did show trust in me which shows a kind of character to do that. We’re not talking about a small amount of money. We’re talking about life-changing money and you have to be able to look each other in the eye, and he has to able to trust me.”

Q: You sound very proud of Andre.

Gores: “He’s just at the beginning. I don’t think he, at 18, or even Christine (Cameron), his mom, totally knew what it meant to just get into the league. I have a lot of pride in the way he deals with people. … At same time, I also want to give him enough credit. He came into the league at 18, not expected to do that much and in these four years, there’s a lot thrown at the man. The way he’s handled it is something to be proud of. And these last couple of years, he’s really worked hard on really knowing his game, developing his game. … Sometimes we take all this stuff for granted. I think he’s just going to continue to mature. It’s only the beginning for him.”

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Q: You can see Van Gundy’s impact on Drummond.

Gores: “As a coach, he takes the position of getting them better every day. From my side, I’m not coaching them every day. I can always provide support. I don’t get involved in any of the stuff Stan is doing, the coaching and so on, but to know Andre has support, Stan’s really focused on getting them better every day. If you don’t work hard and have a game plan, you’re not going to get better. At the same time, Stan’s job is to put Andre in the best position possible and Stan works really hard on the game plans. What I’ve seen with Stan and Andre is that there’s a real plan for his development. I hadn’t seen a coach do that. If you think about why I had to make the coaching changes that I did, ultimately I’m responsible to our players. I can’t put them in a situation where they’re not developing because that’s their future. I’m comfortable, however they get along in a certain game or not, that there’s a real plan for Andre to keep getting better and better, and keep developing into the best person and basketball player he can be. Stan’s very vigilant about it. … He does all the little things where Andre believes it. He believes that Stan is really looking out for him. … I’ve seen Andre become a little more laser-focused on getting better.”

Q: Andre does struggle at the free-throw line. The league took a baby step to address the rise of intentionally fouling poor free-throw shooters, but did it go far enough?

Gores: “I don’t think it does that much. It got moved. Ultimately, I think the league’s going to have to look at what the fans want. They really have to be the ones to drive the game at a certain level as long as it has integrity. I’m not sure it did that much and in the meantime, Andre’s just working on his game. He’s going to do whatever it takes, and he’s doing it. I think we’re going to see good things from Andre on that point.”

Q: He’s indicated he’s figured something out there.

Gores: “He’s going to keep improving. … It’s never perfect, but he led the league in (rebounding). The league is taking a very slow way about this. I think there are some owners who don’t really recognize what’s going on in terms of this rule and how it’s impacting the game.”

Q: Commissioner Adam Silver took on an activist bent with removing the 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte because of the North Carolina law targeting the LGBT community. Did you agree?

Gores: “I don’t think they had a choice. You can’t support anything that has any prejudice, judgment or anything like that. I just don’t think they had a choice. They did the right thing. Once you accept any kind of prejudice or judgment, it’s a slippery slope. Why would you do that?”

Contact Vince Ellis: vellis@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @vincent_ellis56. Download our Pistons Xtra app on iTunes or Android!