Reports: Nets poised to fire coach Frank

It would be a dubious end, but it appears that Nets coach Lawrence Frank will cap his tenure in New Jersey how he started it.

With an NBA record.

The Nets, mired in a historic 16-loss slide to start their season, will fire Frank this week, according to The Bergen (N.J.) Record and Yahoo! Sports.

If the Nets' previous firings are any indication, coach Lawrence Frank has a 50-50 chance of even boarding the team's charter flight Sunday night, Chris Sheridan writes. Blog

The Nets face the Lakers in Los Angeles on Sunday night in a bid to avoid matching the NBA record for losses to start a season, but Frank reportedly is expected to be fired when the Nets return from their road trip, even if the Nets were to beat the Lakers.

The reported firing could happen as early as Monday.

A source close to Frank told ESPN.com's Chris Sheridan that Frank has known for a week his departure was imminent, with the only question being where and when it would happen.

The winless New Jersey Nets have fired coach Lawrence Frank with immediate effect.

The Nets announced the move Sunday shortly after ESPN.com's report that Frank would not coach the Nets in Sunday night's road game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Despite playing hard for assistant coach Tom Barrise, the Nets matched the worst start to an NBA season with their 17th straight loss as the Lakers overwhelmed New Jersey 106-87.

The Nets' announcement said that Frank's permanent replacement has not yet been chosen.