Pistons Owner Tom Gores on Monday "promised a thorough and quick resolution" to the "swirling" speculation about the future of President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars and coach Lawrence Frank, according to Vince Ellis of the DETROIT FREE PRESS. Gores said that he was "serious when he said last season he expected to make the playoffs and is disappointed the franchise didn’t come close." Gores: "I will say I expected better results. ... They’re great guys that know their business, but I’m here assessing everything. My job is to move this franchise forward.” He added, "We have to be accountable for the results of this year. ... We have a lot of (cap) room. We've set ourselves up financially, and basketball operations has set ourselves up, so I'm very excited about the future." The Pistons will have "roughly" $25M to spend this summer on free agency or trades. Gores said the Pistons are "prepared to spend" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 4/16).
MOTOR CITY MADHOUSE: In Detroit, Bob Wojnowski wrote someone "has to explain the losing and the fan apathy and the inability of anyone to firmly lead a once-proud franchise." Eventually, Gores will "have to do something impactful, as he promised when he bought the team." Gores "isn't here often, attending a handful of Pistons games while living primarily in California, so in the absence of visible action, we must hold him to his words." He is "smart enough to recognize patience wanes as the Pistons' profile keeps dropping." This offseason presents an "opportunity for bold moves, and Gores has to have the right leadership in place." But Frank "certainly didn't receive an endorsement from the owner Monday." Meanwhile, Dumars' situation is "more complicated, the biggest test of Gores' two-year ownership." If judged "solely on the current four-year stretch ... Dumars should be dismissed." But on the "whole of his executive career, including the 2004 NBA championship and six trips to the Eastern Conference Final, he warrants another shot." Dumars, who has "built up impressive equity as a player and executive, is respected around the league." So whether he "likes it or not, Gores has run smack into a crossroad." Gores "talks a good game, but we're waiting to see something impactful" (DETROIT NEWS, 4/16). Also in Detroit, Drew Sharp wrote the "prudent move for Gores is giving Dumars one last summer to rectify the mistakes that were partly his own miscalculations, partly ownership instability and partly a former NBA economic structure that too easily encouraged reckless spending." Gores is "a fan" and "has a tendency to interpret situations in opposing extremes." Part of him "envisions striking boldly. That's how Gores amassed his great fortune -- selective risk-taking." But impulsiveness could do "even more harm to a franchise that the general public largely ignores." Dumars' recent record is "far from impressive," but the "accountability starts with Gores" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 4/16).
