Detroit Pistons Sign Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva to Five-Year Deals

The Detroit Pistons began free agency with a vengeance, signing Chicago Bulls guard Ben Gordon and Milwaukee Bucks forward Charlie Villanueva on Thursday.

The Pistons signed Gordon to a contract worth $58 million over five years and Villanueva a five-year, $40 million deal. Pistons GM Joe Dumars spent all $19 million that Detroit had left under its salary cap.

The acquisitions of Gordon and Villanueva are important as the Pistons will more than likely lose Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess to free agency.

Despite playing for separate Central Division teams, Gordon and Villanueva were college teammates at Connecticut, where they teamed up to win the 2004 NCAA Championship.

Last season, Villanueva had career highs in points (16.2) and rebounds (6.7) for Milwaukee last season.

Gordon, one of the NBA's best sixth men, averaged 20.7 points and 3.4 assists for the Bulls last season, including 24.3 points during their epic first-round series against the Boston Celtics.

The signings come one day after the team fired head coach Michael Curry after just one year at the helm. Last season, the Pistons went to the playoffs, but lost in the first round after reaching the Eastern Conference Finals the previous six seasons.

In addition to their minimal post season success, Curry benched veteran Richard Hamilton for newcomer Allen Iverson, who had been acquired from Denver for guard Chauncey Billups.

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