Newz Forum: BASKETBALL: Pistons near deal for Bulls guard Williams

The Detroit Pistons are in serious talks with the Chicago Bulls about a trade that would send seldom-used point guard Frank Williams to the Pistons for Smush Parker and Horace Jenkins.

Pistons president Joe Dumars told ESPN.com that the two sides have been hammering out a deal for the past few weeks and was awaiting word from Bulls GM John Paxson on final approval. The trade cannot become official until December 31 because Parker signed free agent contract in October and must wait 90 days to be traded.

The Pistons have been interested in Williams since the 2002 draft. However, they passed on him in favor of Tayshaun Prince.

Williams earned brief success in New York last winter after Isiah Thomas took over the Knicks. At one point, Thomas went so far as to compare him to Walt Frazier after Williams had a five-game stretch where he averaged 13.2 ppg and 6.8 apg. However, once Thomas traded for Stephon Marbury, Williams' role on the team quickly disappeared.

Williams was traded to the Bulls this summer as part of a package for Jamal Crawford and has been on the bench.

The Pistons see Williams as a guard with true point-guard skills. The other two point guards on the team, Chauncey Billups and Lindsey Hunter, are really scoring guards with some point-guard abilities. Expect Williams to earn 10-to-15 minutes a night backing up Billups and Hunter.

The Bulls likely will waive Parker. His contract is not guaranteed. Jenkins could stay with the team until the end of the season when his contract expires.