Kiki Vandeweghe to take over as Nets coach

New Jersey Nets General Manager Kiki Vandeweghe is set to become the team’s coach for the rest of the season.

He doesn’t have to worry about being on the bench for a potential record-setting loss, though.

Vandeweghe won’t coach his first game with the team until Friday, a person with knowledge of the team’s plans told the Associated Press on Monday. The person requested anonymity because the Nets don’t plan to announce their plans until this morning.

Tom Barrise, who led the team Sunday night after Lawrence Frank was fired, will coach again Wednesday against Dallas, when the Nets can set an NBA record with an 18th straight loss to begin a season.

Former NBA head coach Del Harris will join the Nets as Vandeweghe’s assistant. The pair previously worked together in Dallas.

The Nets fired Frank, their coach for 6 1/2 seasons, on Sunday morning. They lost to the Lakers under Barrise, tying the 1988-89 Miami Heat and 1999 Los Angeles Clippers by losing 17 consecutive games to open a season.

Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers met to discuss his possible return to the team.

Team President Ed Stefanski said in a statement that both parties remain noncommittal about a final decision after a nearly two-hour meeting Monday in Dallas. The 76ers were in town to play the Mavericks.

Iverson, his agent and business manager met with Stefanski, Coach Eddie Jordan and two other members of the organization.

Former NBA All-Star Antoine Walker has agreed to pay more than $900,000 to settle bad-check charges with three Las Vegas casinos and avoid trial on felony criminal charges, a defense lawyer and prosecutor said.

Walker wasn’t in court when his attorney, Jonathan Powell, described a plan for his client to pay a minimum of almost $13,000 a month over five years to settle a complaint stemming from casino debts at Caesars Palace, Planet Hollywood and the Red Rock Resort.

BASEBALL

Average salary almost $3 million

The average baseball salary fell just short of $3 million this year, with the percentage increase slowing to its lowest level since 2004.

The 926 players in the major leagues before rosters expanded in September averaged $2,996,000, according to the annual report of the players’ association, which was obtained by the Associated Press.

That is up 2.4% from last year’s average of $2.93 million. The increase had not been that small since a 2.5% drop in 2004.

The World Series champion New York Yankees had by far the highest average at $7.66 million, topping the major leagues for the 11th consecutive season.

The Dodgers were sixth at $4.33 million, and the Angels were seventh at $4.22 million.

Catcher Jason LaRue has agreed to a $950,000, one-year contract to remain with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Yadier Molina’s backup for two seasons, LaRue batted .240 with two homers and six RBIs in 104 at-bats last season.

Major League Baseball officials have asked Internet sites to remove racy photographs of Cleveland Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore. Sizemore said the photos -- one of them showing him nearly nude -- were stolen from his girlfriend’s e-mail account and posted online. . . . Alex Cora is staying with the New York Mets, agreeing to a $2-million, one-year contract. Details of the infielder’s deal were revealed by two people familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because the Mets had not yet formally announced it. . . . . Chip Caray has called his final baseball game for TBS. Network spokesman Jeff Pomeroy said TBS and the announcer have decided to part ways. Caray is a son of late Atlanta Braves broadcaster Skip Caray and a grandson of famed broadcaster Harry Caray.

ETC.

Jones eyes spot in the WNBA

Disgraced track star Marion Jones is training for a comeback -- in the WNBA.

San Antonio Silver Stars Coach Dan Hughes confirmed that Jones has been training with his assistants to possibly play in the WNBA, more than a year after the 34-year-old was released from federal prison for lying about her doping use.

Jones played college basketball at North Carolina, where she was the starting point guard on the Tar Heels’ national championship team in 1994.

NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson awarded nearly $1 million in education grants to school districts in California, North Carolina and Oklahoma.

Johnson and his wife, Chandra, awarded the California grants at Crest Elementary in El Cajon, a school he attended.

UCLA’s men’s soccer team will play at Wake Forest on Friday in the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament. The game at Winston-Salem, N.C., is scheduled for 4 p.m. PST.