DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons wanted to add talent and get younger this offseason.

On the first day of free agency, Detroit did both.

Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva agreed in principle to five-year contracts with the Pistons, a person with the knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press last night.

The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because NBA rules prohibit announcing deals with free agents until next week, said Gordon's contract is worth $50-plus million and Villanueva will make at least $35 million.

The 26-year-old Gordon averaged 20.7 points for the Chicago Bulls, leading them in scoring for the fourth straight year.

He improved his market value by scoring 42 points in a playoff game against the defending champion Boston Celtics and averaging a team-high 24.3 points in seven postseason games.

Bulls officials had said re-signing Gordon, the No. 3 pick in 2004, was a top priority after previously failing to keep the former Connecticut star with a long-term contract.

Villanueva, who turns 25 next month, averaged 16.2 points and 6.7 rebounds last season for the Milwaukee Bucks. He went from being a restricted free agent to an unrestricted one when Milwaukee chose to not make him a qualifying offer.

Michael Curry, who struggled as a rookie coach in a tough situation, was fired Tuesday and might be replaced by Avery Johnson, Doug Collins or John Kuester by this weekend.

Detroit's fifth coach this decade will potentially have an interesting decision to make if the roster remains intact.

LAKERS

BYRANT SAYS HE WILL STAY

Kobe Bryant insisted his contract status wouldn't be an issue, and he was right.

Now the Los Angeles Lakers can turn their attention to some NBA champion teammates.

Bryant chose not to terminate the final two years of his contract and will remain with the Lakers, the team he wanted to leave just two summers ago.

Team spokesman John Black yesterday confirmed Bryant's decision. The MVP of the NBA finals had until Tuesday to become an unrestricted free agent, but downplayed questions about his future plans throughout the Lakers' five-game victory over Orlando.

Now the Lakers and Bryant's agent will negotiate a contract extension. If they cannot agree, he would earn $23 million next season and could opt out next June.

ROCKETS

ARTEST MAY TEST MARKET

If LeBron James or Kobe Bryant are looking for a little help, Ron Artest is taking calls.

The Rockets star forward, an unrestricted free agent, will consider a team's chances of winning an NBA championship when deciding where he'll bring his skills next season, his agent says.

David Bauman said yesterday that his client would like to return to Houston, but Artest would also think about signing with a contending team — and that might rule out the Rockets if Yao Ming's broken left foot keeps him out for the season.

Bauman wouldn't say which teams have contacted him about Artest. But he said he would expect Artest to talk to James and Bryant if the Cavaliers or Lakers teams were interested in him.

TRAIL BLAZERS

TURKOGLU VISITS PORTLAND

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.

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.