The Pistons intend to announce today that rookie Darko Milicic is free from commitments with his European team and available to join the NBA. The Pistons expect to sign him to a multiyear contract three weeks before training camp starts.

A news conference has been scheduled for this afternoon. One of Milicic's agents, Natasha Cornstein, confirmed Thursday night that a deal had been completed. She wouldn't discuss the terms.

Pistons officials said Milicic was headed to Detroit from Europe, where he was making appearances for Hemofarm Vrsac, his former team. The appearances were the final stipulation in an agreement between Milicic and Hemofarm, which will release him from the remaining six years of a deal that was to run through 2009.

Milicic, 7-feet-1, was the No. 2 overall pick in the June draft. He turned 18 in June. His contract with the Pistons could run as long as four years, including an option year, starting with a salary of $3.595 million.