LOS ANGELES – Tom Gores knew the argument against unifying the jobs of coach and president of basketball operations. It would lead to impulsive decisions by a coach without the counterbalancing influence to safeguard long-term goals a general manager with personnel authority is there to provide.
But Gores had faith in his hire, Stan Van Gundy, and beyond that he had faith in the support he knew Van Gundy would have – from his owner.
Here’s what that support looks like: When Gores and Van Gundy met for almost three hours Saturday here, the takeaway message the owner left with the man to whom he entrusted the franchise was one of the big picture over the present.