NBA franchise Detroit Pistons officially signed free agents Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva on Wednesday.

Local media estimate Gordon's deal to be worth 55 million U.S. dollars over five years and Villanueva's 35 million for the same period.

"We are excited to add two talented players in Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva," Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars said in a statement.

Gordon, 26, averaged 20.7 points per game last season with the Chicago Bulls while Villanueva, 24, posted 16.2 points and 6.7 rebounds for the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Pistons earlier traded away point guard Chauncey Billups, a core member of the team's 2004 NBA title winning team and their Rasheed Wallace signed with the Boston Celtics on Wednesday after he became free agent.

(Xinhua News Agency July 9, 2009)