Source: Kuester to coach Pistons

The Detroit Pistons are close to ending their search for a new boss on the bench.

The Pistons and John Kuester were nearing an agreement last night to make him their coach, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press.

The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal was not done, said the contract could be completed as soon as today.

Kuester spent the past two seasons as a Cleveland Cavaliers assistant and was on Larry Brown's championship-winning staff in 2004 with the Pistons.

He has never been a head coach in the NBA, but has been an assistant with six teams, including two stints with the Sixers (1997-2003 and 2005-06).

"Nice man, don't know much about him as a coach," TNT analyst Doug Collins wrote in a text message to the AP. "Really quality guy/gentleman."

The Pistons spoke with Avery Johnson about replacing Michael Curry, but talks with the former Dallas Mavericks coach ended yesterday.

Detroit also was considering bringing back Collins, a former Pistons coach, but he withdrew from consideration last week shortly after Curry was fired.

Noteworthy

 

* The NBA salary cap has been set for next season at $57.7 million, a decline from 2008-09, allowing teams to begin signing players. The figure the league announced was about $1 million less than last season's cap of $58.68 million, even though league-wide revenue rose 2.5 percent. *

 

* Point guard Rodrigue Beaubois, who has played professionally in France, signed his rookie deal with the Dallas Mavericks. As the 25th overall pick in the draft, he's slotted to receive almost $896,200 this season.