One soon-to-be former Piston is set to replace another former Piston in Milwaukee.

Free agent Mike James, a backup point guard for the Pistons this season after arriving in the Rasheed Wallace deal, will sign a multi-year contract later this week with the Bucks. Damon Jones, who played for the Pistons in 2000-01, appears to be the odd man out in Milwaukee.

Terms of the deal will not be announced, but the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that James will receive $3 million for next season.

The James deal can be completed when the Bucks clear center Etan Thomas off the roster. The Bucks made an offer to Thomas, a restricted free agent, in mid-July. The Wizards recently countered the offer and kept Thomas.

James sought a long-term deal, something the Pistons were unable to provide.

The Bucks were attractive to James because they have a former NBA guard as coach in Terry Porter.

?He talked with Terry, and that was a big thing for Mike,? said Doug Neustadt, James? agent. ?Mike is very defensive-oriented and can shoot the three, much like Terry did in his career. I think he sees some similarities there.?