EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.   — A person familiar with the New Jersey Nets’ coaching search says Avery Johnson has agreed to coach the NBA’s worst team.

Johnson is expected to be introduced on Thursday, said the person who spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday on the condition of anonymity because the team has yet to announce the deal.

ESPN first reported Johnson’s hiring.

The current ESPN analyst coached Dallas for three-plus seasons, going 194-70 in the regular season and 23-24 in the playoffs. He guided the Mavs to the NBA finals in 2006, but was fired after a first-round playoff series loss to New Orleans in 2008.