Sports briefs

Pistons agree with Gordon and Villanueva

DETROIT — A person with the knowledge of the negotiations says the Detroit Pistons have agreed in principle to contracts with free agents Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday night on the condition of anonymity because NBA rules prohibit teams from announcing signings until next week.

Gordon, the third pick in the 2004 draft by the Chicago Bulls, agreed to a five-year deal for at least $50 million. He was the Bulls' top scorer the past four years and became an unrestricted free agent after the season. Chicago officials had said bringing him back was a top priority.

The 26-year-old Gordon averaged 20.7 points during the regular season before scoring 24.3 points during the playoffs when the Bulls lost to the Celtics in seven games.

Villanueva, the seventh overall pick by Toronto in 2005 who has played the last three of his NBA season with the Milwaukee Bucks, also agreed to a five-year deal. His contract is worth at least $35 million.

Villanueva averaged 16.2 points and 6.7 rebounds last season for the Bucks.

Turkoglu visits with the Trail Blazers

PORTLAND, Ore. — Free agent forward Hedo Turkoglu will visit this week with the Portland Trail Blazers, who are looking to bolster a young squad that made the playoffs for the first time since 2003 last season.

In an e-mail to The Associated Press, agent Lon Babby says Turkoglu will be in Portland today. He did not elaborate. A spokesman for the Blazers also confirmed that Turkoglu was visiting the team.

Turkoglu, who helped Orlando to the NBA Finals this past season, informed the Magic he planned to opt out of his contract last week when the team acquired Vince Carter from the New Jersey Nets, Babby said earlier.

Turkoglu was due $7.3 million next season in the final year of his $36 million, six-year deal with the Magic. Turkoglu averaged 16.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists last season.

Turkoglu, a 6-foot-10 small forward from Turkey, is considered one of the more versatile players in the league, with the ball-handling skills of a guard and the rebounding ability of a big man.

He often ran Orlando's offense and created matchup problems for the Celtics and Cavaliers in the playoffs. Against the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers in the finals, Turkoglu averaged 18 points.