Pistons owner Tom Gores responds to critics: "I’m game time when this organization needs me"

Tom Gores hears the critics, and understands them. In his 13 years owning the Pistons, the club has one winning season and zero wins in the playoffs. Asked if he's angry about the lack of success, Gores said last week, "I’m frustrated. I’m not really angry, just disappointed that I haven’t pleased the fans. They deserve more, and I understand that."

Trajan Langdon is Gores' solution. The Pistons' new president of basketball operations, who was introduced last Friday, was hand-chosen by Gores to be the so-called "CEO" of the organization. Gores said he had 50-some-odd meetings over the last month about "getting the right person" for the job, which led him to Langdon.

"Sometimes when I get frustrated, I just work harder," said Gores. "And that’s what I’m going to do -- I’m going to work hard. And if you know me by now, I’m not going to give up. I think we have something here to build on. I’m just going to do my best and channel whatever frustration I have into the future."

Gores has drawn heavy criticism for being an absentee owner who lives far away from his team in Beverly Hills, while failing to know basketball like he does business. He even acknowledged on Friday that "some people think I’m detached from the organization."

All of his prior regimes have failed, most recently GM Troy Weaver and head coach Monty Williams. The latter will cost Gores about $65 million over the next five years simply to not coach the Pistons.

Asked what he'd say to those who question his passion for the Pistons, Gores said that "passion doesn't always show up" in attending every game.

"Obviously I’m extremely passionate. It’s about doing the big things for the team when it’s necessary. My meetings over the last month with Trajan and a whole slew of executives, I’m game time," said Gores. "I’m game time when this organization needs me. So I don’t look at (the criticism). I think it’ll be more understood when we start to win.

"I don’t expect anybody to just think I’m great because I say I care. I have to put the results on the table, the wins."

Gores thought he hit a home run last offseason with the hire of Williams, who became the highest-paid coach in the NBA with a six year, $78.5 million deal. By buying out the rest of Williams' contract after the worst season in franchise history, Gores did put his money where his mouth is.

"When you have to adjust, you adjust," he said. "This franchise means everything to me. It’s not like I didn’t think about (the money) for a second, but the right thing has to survive and I think it was the right move for all of us, including Monty. We just always have do the best thing for the franchise."