The Detroit Pistons, who are 2-26 overall, have major problems to fix.
Tom Gores promises to find out.
The founder of Platinum Equity and owner of the Pistons since 2011 held a conference call with local media Friday night as the team is in the midst of a historic 25-game losing streak. The Pistons have fallen far short of preseason expectations. Gores, Troy Weaver and the coaching staff all expected a remarkable step forward after winning an NBA-low 17 games last season.
There were no layoffs to announce. Monty Williams' job is safe, as is Weaver's. But Gores still promised big changes. And while he didn't go into specifics on Friday, based on conversations with decision-makers in the organization, it's safe to say that the front office will be very active in the trade market in the coming weeks and months and will prioritize addressing shortfalls Eliminate gaps in the squad and add experienced talent to complement the young core.
TICK TOCK: Tom Gores must clarify Pistons future: When is this historic defeat enough?
Gores flew to Detroit on Wednesday and met not only with Weaver and Williams, but also several of the team's recent draft picks, including Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren. There is hope that given the team's cap flexibility, the front office has the resources to get the team back on a positive path. There is also continued confidence in Williams, who signed a record six-year, $78.5 million contract this offseason.
Here's what Gores had to say. Questions and answers have been edited for clarity and length.
Gores: “For me it’s really about talking to the fans and what better place to do that than with this group? I thought for a long time about how to communicate with fans. We owe them one.” Talk about the Pistons and where we are, and I also just apologize to our fans for the disappointment. I'm as disappointed as anyone. Talking to our fans and letting them know what is happening is crucial during this time. It's a crucial moment, I have a lot of thoughts about it.
The expectations were high. When you talked to the coaching staff and front office, what idea did you have for what you wanted this season to look like?
REACTION: Pistons are the butt of the joke in the NBA: “This is now a 12-year streak of miserable failures”
“We wanted it to be competitive. Competing every day, a chance for the play-ins and playoffs, our players to develop, and that would have been a success for us. We discussed that. We knew we still had a lot to do. Those were the expectations, to compete, to grow and somehow get close to the playoffs. Because that's how you grow the most. There was no mistake, that was the expectation.”
Are you considering a front office or coaching change??
[ MUST LISTEN: Make “The Pistons Pulse” your go-to Detroit Pistons podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ]
“What's probably not showing at the moment is that we've cleaned up a lot of things with our player contracts over the last few years. “One of the things that's been going through my mind that's important to the fans and that's what I've been talking about Even speaking to the players the other day, despite all the losses, we still have a very bright future here. No. 1: We have a fantastic selection of young players. High character, great talent. This group of players, and I know them individually and saw them recently, we're in a great position with our young talent. I think seven or eight players are under 22, so young. But No. 1: We have a fantastic selection of young players. No. 2: We have adjusted to the fact that our contracts are flexible. We had all these contracts that were weighing us down, we couldn't be flexible. We also have a lot of flexibility and you know that I am willing to do whatever it takes to make this organization successful. As blurry as the vision feels, for me it's the same feeling I had at the beginning of the season of a bright future. I still have that.
“We have an incredible city that still has our back and I understand that some of them are mad at me, I understand that. I understand, I don't blame them, but still it's a great city with enthusiastic, caring fans. We are connected to the community. All the points there are ready to be connected. We just don’t win.”
Given that there won't be any changes right now, what gives you confidence in this front office, in Troy and what gives you confidence in this coaching staff that makes you believe that this group can get this team out of trouble and turn things around can??
“Firstly, I didn’t say there wouldn’t be changes; You should make sure you don't hold me to it. We need changes. We're not doing well. As far as our goals go.” That group of players and flexibility and all that stuff, I think the stuff and the work to get there is still there. But we have to assess what isn't working here. I depend on Monty and talk about rotations. I don't know, you don't normally do that. And Monty is so good, he knows what he's doing and he's open to talking about it. We need to ask ourselves, “How do we fix things?” We need to make a change. I can't tell you exactly what it is; We're really throwing ourselves into it. We're probably two weeks ahead of you, the fans, as our disappointment catches up with us. We expected much more. But we have to be honest that there are some things that didn't work out with the composition of the team and we have to address that.
“There is a lot of responsibility that needs to be taken on. There may be an increase in staff, but what is certain is that changes are coming. We're not right at the moment. We either have to add something or delete something. We will stick with it.”, and we are already there. We will make changes. We will do it. We haven’t clarified exactly what they will be yet.”
Who is most to blame?
“STORY THAT NOBODY WANTS”: The Pistons' 25-game losing streak is close to an NBA record
“That must be me. I was very optimistic at the start of the season. Maybe I missed something in the combinations. If you're going to put it on someone, I'd say it's Troy and me. We made these decisions. What you're not seeing right now and what the fans aren't seeing is the cleanup of everything. We're in the most flexible time of our lives here, at least since I've owned the Pistons. But as far as our performance goes, I think it has to stay with Troy and me. And that's where it begins. Maybe we underestimated the need for more banking power, I don't know. We underestimated something. We have seven or eight players under the age of 22. This is the composition of our squad. Maybe we need some basic veterans. But it can't be Monty who shoulders it. Monty has been here for over 20 games. You can say, “Hey, maybe he could have done that rotation, that rotation,” that will get you a few more wins. And Monty judges himself every day. It just wouldn't be right.
If there are no changes in the front office between now and the trade deadline, does that hinder your view of his development beyond this season??
“We have to regroup at the end of the season, we're already doing that, but 'What happened?' That's what we have to do. I expect a change. I expect Troy to make a change. Because I'm staying exactly the same as before, I don't think anyone here can say that this change isn't necessary in any real way. I expect Troy to find ways to strengthen our team and make us more successful. I expect him to find ways, and he knows that. And if we don't do anything to improve, I will be disappointed. I will be disappointed. And I think Troy knows it. He knows it.”
One gets the impression that there are many voices in the organization. Must there be a unanimity mentality in the building and not necessarily, should we say, agendas??
“I do not believe that. The voice is Troy and me. We have a lot of people who are good activists and good advisors, and we have focused on what we call reconstruction. We have sorted everything out as far as the contracts and these young players are concerned. It was really Troy and me. There are a lot of people who might want to go in a different direction, but the voice of the whole is Troy and I. We are responsible for where we are.
“It is an aligned vision and I also understand that the vision needs to be adjusted. And I think Troy does too. I don't doubt he knows that. I don't know if that's the answer to that, but like in any company.” In any situation, you can hear and listen to anyone, but that's just advice. And then you make decisions. And Troy and I make the decisions. That doesn’t mean we can’t move in certain directions, but we do make those decisions.”
Contact Omari Sankofa II at [email protected]. follow him @omarisankofa.