Ownership Resolved? Why Tom Gores Is the Best Fit For Detroit Pistons

The sexy story around the Pistons nation this week is the potential deal involving long-time star Richard "Rip" Hamilton—and with good reason.

However, the more important deal is no doubt the prospective sale of the team to California-based billionaire Tom Gores.

The Hamilton deal will shed the Pistons of a large contract, clear up playing time in a log-jammed back court and effectively transition from the past to the future.

The Gores deal determines whether or not the team stays in Auburn Hills, let alone Michigan.

This may seem like hyperbole, but make no mistake about it: This deal is huge for Pistons fans.

Over the past year, there have been a host of people rumored to be involved in buying the Pistons. There was the Magic Johnson rumor, the Mike Illitch rumor and even a potential Middle Eastern sheik rumor.

Of all those connected to the sale of the Pistons, Gores is by far the best option for Detroit. He is from outside of Flint, he went to Michigan State and he still owns some businesses in Michigan.

He also has expressed an interest in helping out the economy in his home state.

The worst thing that could have happened would have been if an outside business or investor bought the team. While the team is worth a lot (Forbes estimates it is the fourth most valuable team at $479 million), it is due mainly to the fact that the Palace of Auburn Hills is paid for.

Therefore, it makes the most sense for the team to remain at the Palace rather than try to build a new arena.

However, an outsider might be tempted to move the team away from Auburn Hills and perhaps outside of Michigan.

Pittsburgh has a bustling economy and would welcome a basketball team; Seattle too has a strong economy and would love to replace their Super Sonics; Las Vegas remains a dream for some, but their weak economy would make it a long shot.

Regardless, most would agree that the best outcome for the Pistons would be for their new owner to keep the team in Auburn Hills.

Some have argued that Illitch represented the best option for the Pistons, considering his strong ties to Detroit. Additionally, Illitch wants to relocate the Red Wings to a new arena downtown and if he owned the Pistons, he could move both teams into the new location, likely near the gentrified area new Comerica Park and the Illitch headquarters at Fox Theater.

However, Illitch already owns the Red Wings and Tigers. Does it really make sense for one owner to own three-fourths of a town's sports teams?

During the early years of his Red Wings ownership, Tigers fans were often heard complaining that while Illitch spent generously on his Wings, he neglected the Tigers. Only after hockey instituted a salary cap did Illitch start to treat his Tigers with the same kind of love.

Would a similar fate befall the Pistons if he bought them?

Also, what happens when Illitch dies? He won't live forever, so could we have a similar situation that we had when William Davidson passed? If you remember, the whole reason we are with an apathetic owner now is because Davidson died and left the team to his wife, Karen, who did not share her late husband's passion for the Pistons.

It is impossible to know if Marian Illitch would share Davidson's apathy, but I personally would feel a little more comfortable with a younger owner such as Gores.

The most important reason, however, that Gores is the best option for the Pistons is the reason why Illitch would be a less than ideal owner; Gores does not own anything else that would sap his energy and attention like Illitch does.

Sure, Gores owns many businesses across the globe, but he does not own any professional sports teams; this means he could potentially become a Mark Cuban-like owner that would treat his team like his baby, using his vast fortune (an estimated $3 billion) to his advantage and restoring the competitive flare that this once proud franchise is known for.

Arguably the happiest person in this whole situation is team president Joe Dumars. Had Illitch bought the team, he would almost certainly be on his way out, likely replaced by his former right-hand man Tom Wilson, who now works for Illitch.

With Gores as owner, Dumars at least has a fighting chance at saving his job. The Hamilton deal is a step in the right direction. If Dumars can present his new owner with a franchise full of young players with relatively small contracts (Ben Gordon notwithstanding) and a likely top five lottery pick, his chances get a lot better.

The bottom line is that Gores could breathe new life into a franchise that has suddenly become stale and stagnant.

Obviously, Gores could turn into the second coming of Donald Sterling or worse yet, he could become Howard Schultz.

To those who don't know the tragic story of Schultz, ask a Sonics fan sometime.

The Starbucks billionaire decided on a whim to buy his hometown Sonics. He then essentially pleaded poverty to get a new arena built by the taxpayers. When this fell through, he sold the team to a businessman with no ties to Seattle.

Shortly after that, the Sonics were no more.

Of course, it is way too soon to know exactly what to expect from Gores. But it is safe to say that he is the best possible option for Pistons fans.

However, that sentence could easily come back to haunt me, as billionaires and their tendencies are not exactly in my wheelhouse.