The Utah Jazz will not match Milwaukee's three-year, $5.5 million offer to point guard Mo Williams.

The 21-year-old played in 57 games with the Jazz as an NBA rookie and averaged 5.0 points, 1.3 assists and 13.5 minutes.

"We knew we needed two point guards when we started free agency," Bucks' GM Larry Harris said.  "First we wanted a veteran point guard (James), and then we were seeking to secure someone younger and with tremendous potential."

Williams was the 47th overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft.

"When he got his opportunity, he proved he belonged," Harris said. "We feel fortunate to get him.  In our position, we've always got to look to the future. We needed someone to help right now, but also down the road."

The acquisition of Williams does not say anything about T.J. Ford's injury or his prospects in Milwaukee.

"T.J. and Mo are very good friends, and T.J. spoke to him a number of times on the phone," Harris said. "That shows a lot about T.J., that he wants the organization to succeed as well."

The Los Angeles Clippers are expected to sign Utah Jazz free agent center Mikki Moore to a one year contract as early as Tuesday, sources have indicated.

The 7'1" Nebraska product averaged 4.1 points in 32 games with the Jazz and New Jersey Nets last year. He enjoyed the best seasons of his six year career with the Detroit Pistons, including averaging 7.9 points a game during the 1999-2000 season.

Moore has also spent regular season time with the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks, as well as preseason stints with the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs.

Last week, the Clippers added center Zeljko Rebraca to the team. Rebraca and Moore were teammates in Detroit as the team began its ascent into the NBA's upper echelon under then head coach Rick Carlisle.

Despite a bevy of media reports indicating Utah Jazz free agent forward Tom Gugliotta would return to the Minnesota Timberwolves, where his career found its greatest successes, he signed a contract with the Boston Celtics today. Although terms of the contract were not disclosed, it's presumably a one year, minimum contract.

Gugliotta, known for his solid rebounding and soft shooting touch, was a 1993 First Team NBA All-Rookie selection. Selected sixth overall in the 1992 NBA Draft by Washington, Gugliotta averaged 14.7 points and 9.6 rebounds in his rookie campaign with the then Washington Bullets and would continue to improve eventually achieving All-Star status with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1997.

"He is a guy that can play a little bit of center in a pinch for Doc (Rivers)," Celtics Executive Director of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge said. "He can play small forward, can play power forward. He can pass, he can shoot and create off the dribble. He's a complete basketball player. He really knows how to play the game."

Kevin O'Connor has to consider a number of variables in whether to match the Bucks' offer sheet to Mo Williams.

First of all, Williams is only 21 years of age and should keep improving.  

Second, a $5.5 million salary over three years is not an exorbitant deal.

He should have significant trade value and can play both guard positions.  

Plus the Jazz may not have that many cheaper options.  

But there are negatives too.  For instance, the roster is deep and he may not get much playing time.  Three years is a long contract for a player at this level and could hurt flexibility.

The Utah Jazz will have to figure out whether to keep restricted free-agent guard Mo Williams after he signed an offer sheet with the Milwaukee Bucks for $5.5 million over three years.

Utah made a qualifying offer of $770,046 for one year to Williams who made in the $350,000 range last season after being selected 47th overall.

Jazz senior vice president of basketball operations Kevin O'Connor said he had not yet seen the Bucks' offer but knew of it.  "That's what I understand," he said. "Until I see the paperwork, I really don't have a comment."

O'Connor continued, "I don't know how it's being paid (per-year breakdown, etc.).  Obviously, we want Mo back. We'll have to take a look at it and see what it works into. We would like to have him back, but it's going to be dependent on where it comes up."

Washington Wizards President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has signed Michael Ruffin to a contract. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not released.

The 6-8 forward was a member of the Wizards Summer League team where he averaged a team best 7.3 rebounds in 18.1 minutes.

?Michael played well for us in the two summer leagues in July,? said Grunfeld. ?He is a good defender, has strong rebounding skills, and gives us depth and experience at the forward position.?

Ruffin spent last season in Utah where he averaged 2.2 points and five rebounds per game. In his four-season NBA career he is averaging 2.2 points and 4.5 rebounds. Drafted out of the University of Tulsa by the Chicago Bulls in the second round (32nd overall) of the 1999 NBA Draft, Ruffin appeared in 116 games over two seasons in Chicago, averaging 2.4 points and 4.7 rebounds.