After suffering through a disappointing 2006-'07 season, plagued with injuries and close defeats, Bucks management is taking the steps it believes are necessary to compete again and reach the playoffs.

Example No. 1 is the club's diligence in pursuing free-agent point guard Mo Williams, who has agreed in principle to a six-year, $52 million contract with the Bucks, according to agent Mark Bartelstein.

Although several details remain and the contract has not been finalized, it could be wrapped up early this week.

A breakthrough came yesterday when the Bucks increased their offer from a five-year, $42 million deal, adding an extra year and $10 million.

"Senator (Herb) Kohl and Larry Harris and the entire organization made it clear how important Mo was to them and their future," Bartelstein said today.

Several options are still being discussed involving the fifth and sixth years of the contract, Bartelstein said. Williams could have player options for those years.

"They stepped up big-time and made it clear how much they wanted him," Bartelstein said, referring to Kohl, the Bucks owner, and Harris, the team's general manager.

"Senator Kohl is truly committed to winning, and he stepped up big-time to keep Mo there."

Kohl had a one-on-one meeting with Williams on Monday, countering a bid by the Miami Heat to land the 24-year-old Mississippi native.

Reached today, Harris would not confirm a final agreement but said, "We're still working on details. I'm optimistic."

Williams started 68 games for the Bucks last season and averaged 17.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 6.1 assists, all career highs. His performance elevated him to become one of the top point guards in free agency, considered second only to Detroit veteran Chauncey Billups, who re-signed with the Pistons on Wednesday.

The Heat had seriously courted Williams, offering a five-year, $31.4 million deal, the maximum it could give under salary cap guidelines.

Williams met with Heat President and coach Pat Riley one week ago, and Riley tried hard to persuade Williams to join a backcourt featuring 2006 NBA Finals most valuable player Dwyane Wade.

"Obviously, it's a great organization, with Dwyane Wade and Shaq (Shaquille O'Neal) and a Hall of Fame coach," Bartelstein said. "They just won a championship a year ago."

In the end, the Bucks had a huge advantage due to their salary cap situation and rules that favor teams attempting to re-sign their own free agents.

The contract averages $8.67 million per year.

Williams, a second-round pick of the Utah Jazz in 2003, received a contract comparable to the one received by free agent Bobby Simmons, who was signed to a five-year, $47 million deal by the Bucks before the 2005-'06 season.

Simmons is also a Bartelstein client, as is Bucks restricted free agent Charlie Bell.

Harris has said he intends to sign Bell to a new contract.

The highest-paid Buck is shooting guard Michael Redd, who signed a six-year, $91 million contract in July 2005.

Williams' new deal could strengthen the Bucks' hand in its negotiations with first-round draft choice Yi Jianlian, whose representatives have requested a trade to another team.

But Harris has insisted he does not want to trade the 7-foot power forward. With Williams in the starting lineup along with Redd, the starting backcourt is set to go along with a frontcourt featuring center Andrew Bogut and forwards Charlie Villanueva and Simmons.