Darko Milicic really wants to sign with the Pistons.

No matter what.

Milicic, whom the Pistons made the second overall pick in the draft, remains mired in contractual and legal issues with his home club in Serbia-Montenegro.

But Milicic told the Dnevnik (Serbia-Montenegro) daily newspaper Thursday that he is "99 percent sure" he will sign with the Pistons and play this season.

"My problems are about to be solved," Milicic said, "and now I want to concentrate on my NBA season."

Milicic's club, Hemofarm Vrsac, filed a $10 million suit against his agent, Marc Cornstein, and Pinnacle Management last month. Hemofarm contends Milicic was under contract through 2009 and was tampered with by Cornstein and Pinnacle. Cornstein and Pinnacle denied the tampering accusation.

Natasha Cornstein, a representative for Pinnacle and Marc's wife, said, "We're very pleased with the progress we've made (with the Pistons and Hemofarm). We're having ongoing daily discussions."