Detroit Pistons: Tom Gores says he has changed as owner

Tom Gores admits he might not have made all the right moves when he first bought the Detroit Pistons. But, in a new article, he talks about how he learned, and about how much he wants to bring a winner to the city.

Leadership begins at the top. If the person who owns the business does not know what they are doing, it trickles down to the rest of the company. The principle works for sports franchises as well. Witness the floundering of (name Detroit sports team) and it can be traced to the top.

The Pistons have never won a playoff game, since Gores purchased the team from the Davidson estate in 2011. And do not think he does not not realize it.

There is an excellent article on CNBC’s website, written by NBA veteran scribe Jabari Young. It talks about the business aspect of the Pistons ‘restoration’ and how great a basketball town Detroit is … when they are successful and playing Pistons-type (i.e. Bad Boys) basketball.

In the piece, owner Tom Gores talked about how he tried to win quickly and took what turned out to be ill-advised moves in hopes of getting the Pistons franchise moving again, like the Blake Griffin trade and including Khris Middleton, now an Olympic gold medal winner, in the Brandon Jennings deal.

"“I should have been better about the idea that you can’t always win, and you don’t win fast,” said Gores to CNBC. “I think I’ve grown from that perspective.”"

Gores grew up in Genesee, Michigan, outside of Flint, so he realizes the passion of Pistons fans. A very successful businessman (worth $5.9 billion according to Forbes), he has learned that  sports is a different animal then the world of merging and acquiring assets he comes from.

In 10 years as owner, Gores is on his fourth person in charge of basketball operations with Troy Weaver (Joe Dumars and Stan Van Gundy were let go, Ed Stefanski ran things on an interim basis).

Say what you want about Gores (and some do not like how especially one of his businesses is run), he has been financially supportive and is giving full support to Weaver’s vision of a restoration of the Pistons past glory.

A lot of owners would blanche at having 34-percent of the team payroll going to players no longer there. Or paying Deividas Syrvidis $1.5 million, so a roster spot can be opened up.

While there are plenty of meddlesome owners in pro sports, Gores has backed Weaver and let him do what he thinks is best to get Detroit on the winning track. That is very important, if the owner has your back, it makes it easier to operate.

"“I can’t be someone who comes in, owns the team and then leaves without making a difference and winning,” Gores said in the article. “I said when I came in, I’d be impactful, and that’s what I have to be. I’m committed to that.“… “But I know to make the ultimate difference in the city, we’ve got to win. I’m determined to do it for Detroit.”"

Of course, the Pistons went 20-52 in Weaver’s first year, so there is a long way to go before Detroit is ‘restored’. But there are some nice pieces for the future being assembled.

Owning a pro sports franchise is unique. Like players, sometimes it takes a while to learn the ropes and know what is helpful and what is not. Gores thinks he has learned a lot in the past 10 years. The record will show in due time.