By yesterday evening, despite a lack of other suitors, the Pistons weren't close to finalizing a deal with their star point guard, who is an unrestricted free agent.

According to ESPN.com, the Milwaukee Bucks, the only team with enough salary cap space that expressed interest in signing a point guard, made no early move to talk with Billups. Instead, the Bucks chose to focus on re-signing their own point guard, Maurice Williams.

The Journal Times (Racine, Wis.) also reported the Bucks had offered Williams a deal worth about $40 million for five years. The same paper reported that the Pistons' initial offer for Billups stood at four years, $52 million, an average of $13 million per season.

But a person with knowledge of the negotiations wouldn't confirm that report, saying the numbers are fluctuating and the sides haven't settled on a four- or five-year contract.

The Toronto Raptors fell out of the running for free-agent small forward Grant Hill after they signed Kapono, the Miami Heat's swingman. That leaves the Pistons, who have a full mid-level exception of nearly $6 million to work with, and the Phoenix Suns, who can offer only the veteran's minimum of $1.2 million.

Still, nothing will happen until Billups first agrees to return, as Hill will undoubtedly look elsewhere if the Pistons lose their former NBA Finals MVP.

Pistons president Joe Dumars, Billups, and his agent Andy Miller did not return calls or e-mail requests for comment.