Billionaire Tom Gores appears to still be in the mix to purchase the Pistons, who are being targeted by Mike Ilitch.

"He wants to buy the Pistons," Clippers owner Donald Sterling said of Gores, who sat next to him at Friday night's Pistons-Clippers game.

Gores is still very interested in the franchise despite Ilitch's status as the front-runner to buy the team.

"I can't tell you anything about that, but I can tell you that I'm a big fan and would I love to own the team? Absolutely," Gores said when asked about the status of the team's sale.

"I will tell you this. I think Mike Ilitch has been great to the Detroit community. If he's able to buy the Pistons, then I'd love to be talking to Mike."