Dallas ? A few weeks after taking over as coach of the Dallas Mavericks, Avery Johnson has agreed to a contract that keeps him in charge the next four seasons.

The deal, expected to be finalized by the end of the week, should end speculation of more changes — either team owner Mark Cuban hiring someone else or Johnson using his lack of a contract to seek another job or as leverage to get a higher salary.

Johnson laughed at all the scenarios that have been floated since he replaced Don Nelson on March 19. He pointed out that he never carried an interim tag and that he had Cuban’s vow that an extension would be coming. The fact it took a few weeks fueled speculation that something else might be going on.

“I think more people worried about it than I did,” Johnson said Tuesday night, prior to the Mavs playing Orlando.