With the Red Wings' Little Caesars Arena slated to open in '17 and an "eagerness from Detroit officials" for another professional sports team in the city, the "possibility remains that the Pistons could move downtown," according to a Q&A with Vince Ellis of the DETROIT FREE PRESS. Pistons Owner Tom Gores said the team has "always been open-minded" towards moving. Gores: "I've always respected (Tigers and Red Wings Owners 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." Gores also discussed the Pistons' payroll next season, which will be "one of the largest payrolls in the NBA." Gores: "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." Gores said he did not think the NBA "had a choice" when it came to removing the '17 All-Star Game from Charlotte over North Carolina's controversial House Bill 2. Gores: "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?" Gores also talked about the MLS effort that he and Cavaliers Owner Dan Gilbert have "thrown their weight behind." Gores: "We're going to get it there, one way or another." He added, "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" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 8/7).
