THIS IS BREAKING NEWS...

Someone had to stop the bleeding, and apparently, the answer is from within.
After an 0-17 start, tying a record for the worst start in NBA history, the New Jersey Nets are announcing that general manager Kiki Vandeweghe is taking over as coach, sources told NBA.com on Monday. Vandeweghe replaces interim Tom Barrise, who coached one game after last week's firing of Lawrence Frank.

Vandeweghe is also bringing longtime coach Del Harris back to the bench as his top assistant. The two have worked together previously in Dallas -- Vandeweghe in the front office and Harris as an assistant to Don Nelson. Barrise and the rest of the assistants are expected to stay on staff.

Vandeweghe will try to jumpstart what's been a miserable season so far in New Jersey . Riddled by injuries and an erosion of talent in recent years, the Nets are off to a 0-17 start that tied the league record for the longest losing streak to start a season. Frank was fired after the first 16 games.

The Nets are off until Wednesday when former New Jersey All-Star Jason Kidd and the Mavericks visit the Meadowlands.

Harris is a logical sounding board for Vandeweghe, who doesn't have any head-coaching experience. Harris, 72, has won more than 500 games in the NBA and was on semi-retirement after spending last year on Vinny Del Negro's staff in Chicago . Harris was recently named general manager for the D-League team in suburban Dallas .

Harris is familiar with several players on the New Jersey roster, having coached All-Star point guard Devin Harris, Trenton Hassell and Eduardo Najera in Dallas .

The Vandeweghe-Harris move is similar to what took place in New Orleans after Byron Scott was fired. General manager Jeff Bower took over as coach and brought back former Hornets coach Tim Floyd as his top assistant.

Source: NBA.com, Turner Sports

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