The 76ers agreed to terms today with restricted free agent guard Louis Williams on a 5-year contract.

Additional terms of the deal were not immediately known.

"It's a good deal for Louis," Merle Scott, Williams' agent, told the Daily News. "It gives him a chance to grow with a team that's building and allows him to stay with the team he came into the league with."The 76ers agreed to terms today with restricted free agent guard Louis Williams on a 5-year contract.

The National Basketball Association announced today that the Professional Basketball Club, LLC, owner of the Oklahoma City NBA franchise, has reached an agreement in principle to purchase the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League from Southwest Basketball, LLC. Oklahoma City becomes the third NBA team to purchase an NBA D-League affiliate, joining the Los Angeles Lakers (L.A. D-Fenders) and the San Antonio Spurs (Austin Toros) as sole owners of their affiliates.

?As owners of the Tulsa 66ers, we will be able to oversee the team's business operations and provide a valuable developmental vehicle for some of our young players,? said Clay Bennett, chairman of Professional Basketball Club, LLC.  ?We have received tremendous support from Tulsa for our NBA team in Oklahoma City and we are excited to be a part of the NBA D-League in the Tulsa area. It?s going to be a great partnership.?

The Los Angeles Clippers signed veteran forward Brian Skinner, vice president of basketball operations announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not announced.

Originally drafted by the Clippers in the first round (22nd overall pick) of the 1998 NBA Draft, Skinner is a 10-year NBA veteran who returns to Los Angeles after playing 66 games last season with the Phoenix Suns. Skinner averaged 3.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 0.2 assists for Phoenix in 2007-08.

?Brian Skinner is a veteran NBA player who will give us both size and depth in the middle,? Baylor said. ?We are familiar with Brian and know that he will be a good fit in his return to the Clippers.?

The Chicago Bulls announced today that the team has waived guard JamesOn Curry.  Curry (6-3, 190), was selected by Chicago in the second round (51st overall) of NBA Draft 2007.

The Bulls have discovered some interest in guard Larry Hughes with the obvious caveat of exchanging troublesome contract for troublesome contract.

Since the Bulls need to thin out their backcourt, some possibilities could include Portland's Joe Przybilla, New York's Jared Jeffries, Dallas' Erick Dampier, or Denver's Kenyon Martin.

Yao Ming expressed concerns about team chemistry to the Houston Chronicle and referenced Ron Artest's involvement in the 2004 brawl with Pistons' fans following the news that the former Pacer and King had been dealt to the Rockets.

"Hopefully, he's not fighting anymore and going after a guy in the stands," Yao said, according to the Chronicle.

When asked about those comments, Artest said Yao had bought into "all the propaganda" about him, according to The Sacramento Bee.

"I understand what Yao said, but I'm still ghetto," Artest said, according to the report. "That's not going to change. I'm never going to change my culture. Yao has played with a lot of black players, but I don't think he's ever played with a black player that really represents his culture as much as I represent my culture. Once Yao Ming gets to know me, he'll understand what I'm about."

"If you go back to the brawl, that's a culture issue right there. Somebody was disrespecting me, so he's got to understand where I'm coming from. People that know me know that Ron Artest never changed."

The Bulls believe a contract in the neighborhood of $60 million over six seasons is fair for Ben Gordon.

"We will continue to talk to Ben's representative (Raymond Brothers) and look for ways to get him signed," General Manager John Paxson said in an e-mail statement.

"Every contract and negotiation is different, but we value Ben and respect the part he has played for us the past four seasons and certainly want him to be a part of our future, as well."

The issue with Gordon isn't so much whether he deserves more than $9.9 million per season but whether he can get a better contract from another team, either in the NBA or Europe.

So far, the sign-and-trade interest in Gordon has been minimal.

The Chicago Bulls announced today that the team has re-signed forward Luol Deng to a multi-year extension. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

?Signing Luol has always been a priority for this organization and we have always felt that he was a big part of our future.  We are very happy that Luol will now be with us long term as we continue to grow as an organization,? said Bulls Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations John Paxson.

With Jerry Reinsdorf and director of player personnel Gar Forman taking a greater role in contract negotiations, Bulls GM John Paxson has been freed up to talk trades with other teams, according to a report by Mike Mcgraw of the Daily Herald.

According to the report, the Bulls have had discussions with Sacramento about center Brad Miller while guard Larry Hughes has been attracting some interest.

Some options, according to McGraw, include include Portland's Joe Przybilla, New York's Jared Jeffries, Dallas' Erick Dampier, or Denver's Kenyon Martin.

Ron Artest said that he was excited about going to the Rockets but would join them only if they are committed to him, the Houston Chronicle is reporting.

Artest's comments about commitment stem from Yao Ming?s wariness of the trade.  Ming is happy with the deal but is concerned for team chemistry.

?We?ve still got to make sure there?s still a commitment,? Artest told the Sacramento Bee. ?That?s the main thing. When I speak to the powers-that-be of the Houston Rockets organization, we?re going to find out how much they really want me there.?

?For some reason, I like (Artest),? Yao said, ?because in the games we play against him, I hate him."

?When I text-messaged with Luis (Scola), we talked about team chemistry. That?s only what worries us. We worry about the new attitude to the team. We are adding talent to the team, and we need that, but building team chemistry is important. This is not bad. I don?t mean he is not welcome to Houston. But a new player always needs some time."

?There?s worry. Obviously, yes. ... Hopefully, he?s not fighting anymore and going after a guy in the stands. ... I have to find a way to talk to him and see what we can do as a basketball team. He has a history, but we know he is a physical player. He is a good player. He really can help us.?