DETROIT — 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, 54, 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 was also an NBA assistant in Orlando, Philadelphia — under Brown — New Jersey and Boston. The North Carolina graduate was a head coach at George Washington from 1985-90.

"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.

The Pistons are clearly in a rebuilding mode, revamping their team from a veteran-laden one to a franchise counting on players in their mid-20s.

Detroit is expected to sign free agents Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva to five-year contracts today, essentially plugging them in for Chauncey Billups and Rasheed Wallace.

Gordon is 26 and Villanueva turns 25 next month, potentially entering the prime of their careers, after Billups and Wallace were at their best when Detroit won the NBA title five years ago.

Detroit's fifth coach in nine seasons — following Curry, Flip Saunders, Larry Brown and Rick Carlisle — will have an interesting choice to make if the roster remains intact.

SALARY CAP

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 last night was about $1 million less than last season's cap of $58.68 million, even though league-wide revenue rose 2.5 percent. The number is expected to drop further next season when the full effect of the economic difficulties hits.

The luxury tax level also dropped to $69.92 million. Any team whose salary exceeds that will have to pay $1 for every $1 it goes over. The tax level last season was $71.2 million. The midlevel exception will be $5.85 million.

MAVERICKS

Dallas Mavericks point guard Rodrigue Beaubois, who has played professionally in France, took part in his first summer-league practice yesterday and signed his rookie deal with the club.

As the 25th overall pick, he's slotted to receive almost $896,200 this season and $963,400 next season, with a $1.03 million option for his third year.

Beaubois actually was drafted by Oklahoma City, then was sent to Dallas for the No. 24 pick (B.J. Mullens) and a second-rounder.

HAWKS

The Atlanta Hawks are keeping the point guard who has led the team to two straight playoff appearances.

The Hawks and Mike Bibby have reached an agreement on a three-year contract, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said yesterday.

The person requested anonymity because the deal has not been announced. Hawks general manager Rick Sund said he could not comment.