October 13, 2024 | Articles Homepage News The Pistons
Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores details offseason plan to add veterans to ‘complement’ young core
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores spoke with reporters at halftime of the 105-97 loss to the Phoenix Suns in a preseason game held on the campus of Michigan State.
He addressed many topics with the franchise trying to improve upon last season’s 14-68 record, but it’s clear the plan crafted alongside new President of Basketball Operations Trajan Langdon to add veterans like Tobias Harris, Malik Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Paul Reed was intentional.
“We have this young group of players that need to be developed and also need to be complemented with the right players,” Gores said. “I feel really good about the veterans we’ve added. Tobias, who I’ve known for a long time, we have Beasley and Hardaway and Reed that’s come in. I feel very good about the offseason with the veterans.”
“We needed to complement them with the right veterans so they could grow properly. That’s how we approached it. We have a core that we believe in, and we’ve got the veterans added in.”
Harris, Beasley and Hardaway all shot over 35 percent from 3-point range last season, which should provide spacing for primary ballhandlers Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey. Reed is expected to provide interior depth with big men Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart. All four newcomers are also durable with each appearing in at least 70 of 82 games last season. Injuries have plagued the Pistons in recent seasons.
Here’s what else Gores, the Founder and CEO of Platinum Equity, said to reporters.
(Answers have been edited for length and clarity).
More on Harris, who previously played for the Pistons: “I have the luxury of knowing Tobias for a long time ago, seeing him as a professional early in his career. We really connected on the idea of he’s got family in Detroit, and I know the kind of person he is. He wants to make a difference here and he wants to be part of the comeback I think we’re going to make. Tobias is a pillar; him and Cade are ready to lead. I feel good about the way he’s going to contribute. He’s solid, you don’t have to worry about any one game. He’s going to show up.”
On Cunningham’s max contract extension this offseason: “Cade is the same guy; he’s just maturing more and more every day. He’s developing. When he joined us, everybody thought he was a leader, and he’s become one. I’m very happy with Cade and I’m happy we signed him.”
On how Langdon approached the offseason: “Trajan and I, through many meetings, (organized the front office). He’s brought in many great people, and he’s taken advantage of the people we already have. We’re really running it like a business, so I feel very good about it. Trajan and I know there’s a lot of work to be done, but we just got to do the work and hopefully the results come. I feel like the right work is getting done.”
On new coach J.B. Bickerstaff: “I think J.B.’s doing an incredible job communicating with the players and getting us organized. I feel good. Everybody knows we have a lot of work to do, but we turned the page and we’re ready to go.”
On the upcoming season (the opener is Oct. 23 vs. the Pacers): “We just got to grow. We got to compete, but at the same time, no limits. Sometimes you get to places in life where you don’ t set limits, you just got to do all the work. I’m not going to put any limits on this team. They’re working hard, they had a very hard summer working together. I saw them a few times. We got together for some bonding, and you can see it a little bit on the floor.”