Tom Gores. If you would recall, it was approximately a year ago that the general sentiment on him was vastly different. He kept Joe Dumars around so he's a dunce who doesn't know how to operate a basketball team. He cheered passionately for his team in a preseason game which means he knows nothing about the game. He didn't use the amnesty clause because he's a money-hugging cheapskate. A substantial portion of our board disliked him and a few posters had almost a comical hatred of him. It was absurd then and looks even more absurd in retrospect.
Letting Joe Dumars remain at the helm for a few years: This was absolutely the right move. Under normal ownership circumstances, Dumars put together the pieces to create a championship team. It was not only fair, but prudent for Gores to return those conditions to Dumars and see what he could do. Dumars failed to show he could repeat the act and stumbled again over signings and coaching hires, so he was fired at the appropriate time.
Gores spent for a coach that we pretty much all thought was out of our league. Lots of outsiders questioned the money we gave SVG. They were probably even angry about it as it was Gores who redefined the salary that coaches expect nowadays. They also questioned the power we gave him, but it was necessary. Gores was willing to spend more to get this team back into contention.
Josh Smith. This move, once and for all, shattered any illusions that Tom Gores is a cheapskate. It's like he bought the most expensive video game system (a neo geo?) for his kid, along with all the games and accessories, the kid starts getting terrible grades, and he makes a youtube video where he hammers it in front of the crying kid. Then he goes out and spends even more money on educational software.
Arn Tellem. Who knows how much this is costing him? Whether this ends of filtering over to basketball decisions or not, he brought a brilliant mind over at a high cost. Tellem mentioned in the SI article that Gores is the one who came to him with the offer. This is outside-the-box thinking and a move that takes balls to do. Gores is like the guy who continues to tries to date girls out of his league and yet somehow finds a way to get them.
Tom Gores is one of the top owners in the league. He may or may not ever end up delivering more championships to Detroit, but it won't be for a lack of investment or innovative thinking. He's taken the right steps in building a winner.
Finally, Tom Gores has one pose. He knows its a killer pose, so he does it whenever a camera is trained on him. It's his 'Look, I don't really know how to be casual, but I'll prop my elbows upon my knees and stare into the camera like I'm John Stamos' pose. And it's boss.
Spoiler:
Thank you Gores!
