Spurs to announce Ettore Messina as assistant after the Finals

[bklynspursfan]

476479796961370112

[bklynspursfan]

476482117853921281

[Malik Hairston]

Damn, that's a big move..I don't follow Euro basketball, but isn't he regarded as an elite coach?..

[Tuddy]

Manu will be around next year, good news.

[cd98]

He was a guy a lot of teams seemed interested in, including Atlanta.

[Tuddy]

Bout time too, Euro coaches are sorely needed in the NBA

[Malik Hairston]

The NBA desperately needs to start thinking outside of the box for coaching hires, tbh..it's trending upwards, thankfully, as teams are diverting from ISO-ball..

They need to stop recycling failed coaches that don't run systems..Byron Scott, Monty Williams, Mike Woodson, Scott Brooks, etc..those types of coaches should never get NBA jobs, going forward..

Former players that played in the ISO-ball era of the 90s are not going to be good coaches, as we just saw with Jason Kidd and his ISO offense, this year..Fisher won't be any different..Kerr has hope, though, as he is big on analytics..

[mudyez]

great news!

[tholdren]

The NBA desperately needs to start thinking outside of the box for coaching hires, tbh..it's trending upwards, thankfully, as teams are diverting from ISO-ball..

They need to stop recycling failed coaches that don't run systems..Byron Scott, Monty Williams, Mike Woodson, Scott Brooks, etc..those types of coaches should never get NBA jobs, going forward..

Former players that played in the ISO-ball era of the 90s are not going to be good coaches, as we just saw with Jason Kidd and his ISO offense, this year..Fisher won't be any different..Kerr has hope, though, as he is big on analytics..


I never understood that. Why, if you are a coach in any sport in america, can you get recycled after having losing season after losing season? I dont get that

[BatManu20]

Ettore Messina is close to being named assistant coach of the San Antonio Spurs, as first reported by Daniele Labanti (https://twitter.com/DL_corriere/status/476479352792940544) and as confirmed to Sportando.

Messina will leave CSKA Moscow after the VTB League Finals and will return to the NBA where he already had an experience with the Lakers in Mike Brown’s coaching staff.

Gregg Popovich and Ettore Messina know each other since years and the Spurs head coach has a great respect for Ettore Messina.

The official announcement should come after the NBA Finals.

[El_Mago]

Will probably be the next Spurs head coach after Pop leaves.

Pop may stick around a year after Duncan, but he's no fool.

Dude already has a plan and vision for the Spurs post-Duncan.

[Baam]

Anything would be better than Boylen...

Ironically it would have been huge news before but right now the euro coach with all the hype is David Blatt...

[loveforthegame]

Damn good move. :tu

[it's me]

Damn good move. :tu

Not sure about that............. it means more tunobili. I was hoping he retiring this year.

[HI-FI]

:tu

I like this. I was hoping he would be given a shot to replace Pop. I know Pop has said that it shocks him that more Euro coaches aren't given a chance, so Pop just being consistent.

it would be ironic though if Messina prefers nigs from the US streets over Pop's euro fetish.

[Mugen]

The last Italian we picked up has been meh so far tbh.

[baseline bum]

Good news. The Spurs desperately need a quality assistant after losing Bud.

[benefactor]

...and Pop's replacement arrives. Great choice. Welcome to the Spurs, Coach Messina.

[r0drig0lac]

lol, that ST poster updated the wiki page on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ettore_Messina
if he do Khryapa and Teodosic reach the spurs'm happy

[xmas1997]

I wonder how much imput he will have in the up coming draft?

[Dex]

...and Pop's replacement arrives. Great choice. Welcome to the Spurs, Coach Messina.

First thing I thought of, tbh.

[xmas1997]

When Pop retires from coaching, does anyone think he stays on as president of basketball operations?

[Texas_Ranger]

He was Manu's and Marco's coach in Virtus Bologna.

great move.

[99 Problems]

Spurs are so astute. I thought the Lakers would snap him up a few weeks ago.

[DAF86]

If he comes I bet there was strong chance that he was told he was going to be the main guy in a couple of years.

[objective]

Good news is that he's probably pop's successor, and not udoka, marks, Boylan, or avery Johnson. He could have gone to Utah to be an assistant, but he's coming here to take over I feel.

Bad news is it's more playing time for trashcan Marco.

[Mal]

Great move. Best european coach.

[ace3g]

First thing I thought of, tbh.

Thinking the same thing

[SpurPadre]

Great move but I hope this isn't the best news we get this month, tbh.

[99 Problems]

Certain to be more to this that meets the eye. He's not coming here to work Sean MAY during mini camp.

[Hemotivo]

Great move. Best european coach.

yep

but two years late imho

[alpha_HaZE]

great move, I always secretly hoped for Obradovic, but I am bias. Messina is as good, if not better.

[xmas1997]

I also wonder if he will be the number one assistant coach.

[Brazil]

Damn, that's a big move..I don't follow Euro basketball, but isn't he regarded as an elite coach?..

He is an elite coach, one of the best in europe if not the best with obradovic. He is modern in his approach and a winner (euroleagues, italian and russian championships, silver medal at the euro with Italy)... a good move for the Spurs. He was rumored to the Lakers at one point and worked a bit with Mike Brown in 2012 but did not last.

[jARS mEsH sEt]

The NBA desperately needs to start thinking outside of the box for coaching hires, tbh..it's trending upwards, thankfully, as teams are diverting from ISO-ball..

They need to stop recycling failed coaches that don't run systems..Byron Scott, Monty Williams, Mike Woodson, Scott Brooks, etc..those types of coaches should never get NBA jobs, going forward..

Former players that played in the ISO-ball era of the 90s are not going to be good coaches, as we just saw with Jason Kidd and his ISO offense, this year..Fisher won't be any different..Kerr has hope, though, as he is big on analytics..

Kerr always raves about Pop's system. I'm pretty sure he knows how antiquated iso-ball is if you want to be a championship contender in the modern era.

[Brazil]

btw there are some cool stuff in this website about european coches for those who would want to dig into european culture: http://coaching.fibaeurope.com/Default.asp?cid=%7BE8DBEC51-0212-4C9D-B387-4CB5D1D3A722%7D

I've read some of Messina, some are quite interesting.

here is a link about some Messina drills: http://www.fip.it/public/41/3533/ettore%20messina%20my%20favorite%20drills.pdf

[elemento]

A bit late tbh

[hsxvvd]

Great move. Succession planning. Could even be that the Head Coach opening is something that is part of his negotiations, especially with so many NBA teams sniffing around for new coaches. Locking up an 'elite' coach and giving him a season or so to learn the ropes from the master, whilst keeping him away from potential suitors. Brilliant move.

[AFBlue]

Just awesome.

[mudyez]

What? Obradovic? Hell no! Not saying, he is a bad coach, but no way he is one of the best in Europe. He is somewhat of a camera happy fag.

[Cherry]

Ettore!! mi amore

[Pero]

What? Obradovic? Hell no! Not saying, he is a bad coach, but no way he is one of the best in Europe. He is somewhat of a camera happy fag.
Not one of the best? Right, he's a legend. :lol

[mudyez]

Not one of the best? Right, he's a legend. :lol

I think, i have to google his name...maybe his father is a coach too! no way we are talking about the same guy.

[mudyez]

LOL yeah...not his father but another person (I was thinking Sasha).

[barakz21]

Okay, so for us who aren't that familiar or don't really follow the euro league.. What can we expect from him as a coach, regardless of whether it's as a head coach or assistant? I know he's a pretty good coach, based from the reactions of the posters, but it would be nice to know what he can bring to the spurs? Thanks!

[dg7md]

Replacement coach in 2 years tbh?

[Perry Mason]

I already posted this but it bears repeating. According my legit Popovich family source, Pop retires this off season and needs hip surgery. There is a small chance of one more season. This will be Pop's replacement, and it is a genius move.

And I don't make shit up guys. Look at my post history.

[JR3]

Jazz wanted him too... Great move for the Spurs!

[Rito3d30]

UPDATE: Spurs general manager R.C. Buford denied that Ettore Messina was San Antonio-bound, via Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2014/06/10/buford-denies-reports-about-addition-to-popovichs-staff/):
“Is someone leaving our staff that I don't know about?” Buford said when asked about the Messina report. “We have not had one conversation with anyone about a coaching position for next season.”
---
CSKA Moscow head coach Ettore Messina will join Gregg Popovich's staff with the San Antonio Spurs (http://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/page/SA/san-antonio-spurs) after this season ends, as first reported by Corriere di Bologna's Daniele Labanti (https://twitter.com/DL_corriere/status/476479352792940544) and confirmed by Sportando (http://www.sportando.com/en/usa/nba/122422/spurs-close-to-naming-ettore-messina-assistant-coach.html).
Messina served as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers (http://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/page/LAL/los-angeles-lakers) under Mike Brown in 2011-2012. The Atlanta Hawks (http://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/page/ATL/atlanta-hawks) reportedly considered him for their head-coaching vacancy last year (http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/22259902/report-hawks-considering-hiring-cska-moscow-coach-ettore-messina) before settling on Mike Budenholzer, who was Popovich's lead assistant at the time. The Spurs tried to hire Messina last year, according to ESPN's Marc Stein (https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/475046512829800448), who also reported (https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/475029279353225217) that there was talk that new Utah Jazz (http://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/page/UTA/utah-jazz) head coach Quin Snyder would try to add Messina to his staff.
Having coached Real Madrid, Benetton Treviso, Virtus Bologna and Italy's national team, Messina has quite a resume. He's long been talked about as a potentially historic hire as an NBA head coach, and that could still happen in the future. He has a great reputation for his offensive mind -- in that respect, this will be a case of the rich getting richer in San Antonio.

Smokescreen or what

[TheGreatYacht]

Not sure about that............. it means more tunobili. I was hoping he retiring this year.

[Uriel]

UPDATE: Spurs general manager R.C. Buford denied that Ettore Messina was San Antonio-bound, via Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2014/06/10/buford-denies-reports-about-addition-to-popovichs-staff/):“Is someone leaving our staff that I don't know about?” Buford said when asked about the Messina report. “We have not had one conversation with anyone about a coaching position for next season.”
---
CSKA Moscow head coach Ettore Messina will join Gregg Popovich's staff with the San Antonio Spurs (http://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/page/SA/san-antonio-spurs) after this season ends, as first reported by Corriere di Bologna's Daniele Labanti (https://twitter.com/DL_corriere/status/476479352792940544) andconfirmed by Sportando (http://www.sportando.com/en/usa/nba/122422/spurs-close-to-naming-ettore-messina-assistant-coach.html).
Messina served as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers (http://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/page/LAL/los-angeles-lakers) under Mike Brown in 2011-2012. The Atlanta Hawks (http://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/page/ATL/atlanta-hawks) reportedly considered him for their head-coaching vacancy last year (http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/22259902/report-hawks-considering-hiring-cska-moscow-coach-ettore-messina)before settling on Mike Budenholzer, who was Popovich's lead assistant at the time. The Spurs tried to hire Messina last year, according to ESPN's Marc Stein (https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/475046512829800448), who also reported (https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/475029279353225217) that there was talk that new Utah Jazz (http://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/page/UTA/utah-jazz) head coach Quin Snyder would try to add Messina to his staff.
Having coached Real Madrid, Benetton Treviso, Virtus Bologna and Italy's national team, Messina has quite a resume. He's long been talked about as a potentially historic hire as an NBA head coach, and that could still happen in the future. He has a great reputation for his offensive mind -- in that respect, this will be a case of the rich getting richer in San Antonio.
CIA R.C.

[Pero]

LOL yeah...not his father but another person (I was thinking Sasha).
Haha yeah not Sasha. Željko Obradovič is the winningest coach in Euroleague history and he's done it with several teams.

[Pero]

But anyway Željko Obradovič is not interested in coaching in the NBA because he would have to start as an assistant and he's not interested in being anybody's assistant at this point in his career. And also even if he was made head coach from the start he's doubtful as to how the players would receive him since he never coached in the NBA and is an unknown in that sense.

[romain.star]

Fantastic news. If he comes, it's because they told him he would take over when Pop retires

[benefactor]

:lol RC deflecting

[exstatic]

:lol RC deflecting

Yeah...

RC, someone is ALWAYS leaving your coaching staff every summer. :lol

[Cowboys_Wear_Spurs]

This is a great move at a perfect time. There are a lot players in Europe who a more than capable of being great players in the NBA but don't come here b/c of the NBA system. Having a coach like Messina will draw a lot of interest from even more Int'l players to join the Spurs.

[bluebellmaniac]

If there was any doubt on if we were going Euro heavy in the draft, let this remove all doubt... But with only a couple spots available, one would think it'd have to be stashable picks.

[testies]

he's not the best euro coach by any means, he is a ferrari crasher.. gets huge budgets and does fuckall

ivkovic is the best euro coach, btw he had reunions with pop before playoffs

after him, there is obradovic, laso and others

[Vic Petro]

I don't think what RC said is a smokescreen. Unless a coach leaves I'm not sure where they'd put Messina. I assume Messina would only want to come if he's the lead assistant or at least 2nd in that hierarchy. Chip doesn't even sit on the bench so I'm not sure how his leaving would affect anything.

[FromWayDowntown]

Messina apparently resigned from CSKA:

477527949130727424

http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/russia/122757/ettore-messina-resigns-as-head-coach-of-cska-moscow.html

[Jenks]

Will the Spurs start fouling at the end of games now up by 3?

[Uriel]

So I guess these reports weren't true after all. :depressed

[ironman2886]

So I guess these reports weren't true after all. :depressed
What are you sad about?

[Mel_13]

Reporters in Europe say it will still happen. Recap on Project Spurs today:

http://projectspurs.com/2014-articles/report-spurs-to-add-ettore-messina-to-coaching-staff.html

[xmas1997]

Damn, I was hoping it was true, he would have provided a lot of knowledge of Euroball.

[ironman2886]

Damn, I was hoping it was true, he would have provided a lot of knowledge of Euroball.
Would have?

[T Park]

If I were to guess, Sean Marks goes back to his previous job in the organization.

[Mel_13]

If I were to guess, Sean Marks goes back to his previous job in the organization.


That makes perfect sense.

[Kindergarten Cop]

So I guess these reports weren't true after all. :depressed


Damn, I was hoping it was true, he would have provided a lot of knowledge of Euroball.


What are you sad about?


Would have?

I'm guessing we have some posters confusing "resign" with "re-sign".

[Prime Time]

I'm guessing we have some posters confusing "resign" with "re-sign".
That's what I'm thinking. Which is it lmao, I'm guessing the answer is resign though.

[ironman2886]

I think posters are confusing the words "resigned" and "re-signed." Read the article guys. Messina resigned from his contract. That means he is no longer under contract. Reports say that the Spurs are going to sign him after the draft.

[ironman2886]

I'm guessing we have some posters confusing "resign" with "re-sign".
Yes.

[xellos88330]

I'm guessing we have some posters confusing "resign" with "re-sign".

Agree. I was like... WTF????

[MI21]

If I were to guess, Sean Marks goes back to his previous job in the organization.

Makes sense, I always wondered why Marks was an assistant coach. Doesn't strike me as a basketball genius for some reason :lol

What was his previous role?

[Mel_13]

Makes sense, I always wondered why Marks was an assistant coach. Doesn't strike me as a basketball genius for some reason :lol

What was his previous role?

They were grooming him in the front office. I think he was GM for the Toros.

I believe that they added him to the coaching staff because Brett Brown wasn't hired by the Sixers until very late in the summer. Marks was better than a rushed hire from outside the organization. That's my guess, anyway.

[objective]

Messina might be too salty over blatt maybe getting the head job in Cleveland to be an assistant maybe?

[MI21]

They were grooming him in the front office. I think he was GM for the Toros.

I believe that they added him to the coaching staff because Brett Brown wasn't hired by the Sixers until very late in the summer. Marks was better than a rushed hire from outside the organization. That's my guess, anyway.

Makes sense, thanks :tu

[ploto]

Rasho's two favorite coaches together...

[dg7md]

I'm really hoping he comes over, it would be the best move to plan for the post-Pop era in the upcoming years.

[xmas1997]

I think posters are confusing the words "resigned" and "re-signed." Read the article guys. Messina resigned from his contract. That means he is no longer under contract. Reports say that the Spurs are going to sign him after the draft.

Wow, you are right, I passed right over it without questioning it. My bad.
:lol
Seems to me though they could use his input before the draft, and maybe they are.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Interesting. So Messina is the succession plan. I like it.

[Cowboys_Wear_Spurs]

Messina apparently resigned from CSKA:

477527949130727424

http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/russia/122757/ettore-messina-resigns-as-head-coach-of-cska-moscow.html

Leaves after two seasons. That should tell anyone HE LEFT.

[Dex]

I'm really hoping he comes over, it would be the best move to plan for the post-Pop era in the upcoming years.

Ensures the Spurs keep playing Spurs Basketball for the foreseeable future, as long he can succeed in the NBA. His tenure doesn't suggest anything otherwise.

I think I still would've rather had Coach Bud...but we still don't know what Messina could bring, so I'll label him as option 1A right now.

[Prime Time]

Serious question, could you guys see Pop leaving the Spurs within the next 3 years or so? He seems like he loves coaching, but I'm not sure if he'll have the patience to rebuild. If so, Ettore has a solid resume to replace him.

[xmas1997]

They were grooming him in the front office. I think he was GM for the Toros.

I believe that they added him to the coaching staff because Brett Brown wasn't hired by the Sixers until very late in the summer. Marks was better than a rushed hire from outside the organization. That's my guess, anyway.


Do you see Messina as the heir apparent to Pop?
Makes sense IMHO.

[Dex]

Pop has ALWAYS said as soon as Duncan walks, he's done.

Personally, that never seemed to me like his personality. He loves the game. He loves to coach. I don't think Pop really cares about the accolades, but he's not just a coach who has won solely because of Duncan, and I don't think he wants to be known as that. I get the sentiment, considering they may have the one of the greatest coach-player relationships EVER, all things considered. But to me, that doesn't seem like a Pop move.

In my opinion, he will stick around for 2-3 seasons after Duncan and Manu leave, to stabilize the team into what will hopefully be the Leonard era. He'll then hand off the keys of a stable franchise, most likely to a trusted assistant, and retire into the sunset to drink fancy wine and play games of Risk in his basement.

And we'll all see what they decide to do with it.

[xmas1997]

Pop has ALWAYS said as soon as Duncan walks, he's done.

Personally, that never seemed to me like his personality. He loves the game. He loves to coach. I don't think Pop really cares about the accolades, but he's not just a coach who has won solely because of Duncan, and I don't think he wants to be known as that. I get the sentiment, considering they may have the one of the greatest coach-player relationships EVER, all things considered. But to me, that doesn't seem like a Pop move.

In my opinion, he will stick around for 2-3 seasons after Duncan and Manu leave, to stabilize the team into what will hopefully be the Leonard era. He'll then hand off the keys of a stable franchise, most likely to a trusted assistant, and retire into the sunset to drink fancy wine and play games of Risk in his basement.

And we'll all see what they decide to do with it.

I get the same impression. And Messina seems like the best candidate to pass it off to.

[024]

I've always wondered what Pop would do after he retires from coaching. He'll probably move back to being President of Operations full time... maybe even pull a Phil Jackson and hire Ginobili as the head coach to groom. Or by that time Bud and/or Brown would be in such deep shit with their lottery teams that they could come back.

[xmas1997]

Manu has said many times he has no interest in coaching.

[SnakeBoy]

When Pop retires from coaching, does anyone think he stays on as president of basketball operations?

I'd be shocked if he didn't stay on in some capacity. He's only 65 and doesn't strike me as the type who wants to spend his time sitting in a rocking chair.

[xmas1997]

I'd be shocked if he didn't stay on in some capacity. He's only 65 and doesn't strike me as the type who wants to spend his time sitting in a rocking chair.

I agree, he'll most likely stay on as president IMHO.

[Outlier]

How comparable is he to David Blatt?

[kobyz]

How comparable is he to David Blatt?

More bright, less tough.

[kobyz]

Who is he replacing on the coaching staff?

[SupremeGuy]

I saw this thread earlier and was confused as to why people were sad about him resigning and just chalked it up to confusion. lol I didn't even think of explaining the difference of resign and re-sign.

[hsxvvd]

Bonner should slide over to the bench

[Uriel]

I wasn't confusing "resign" and "re-sign." What a stupid thing to confuse. I didn't even see the post about that report.

I bumped the thread because the initial report stated the Messina would be announced as an assistant after the Finals, but no such announcement was ever made.

[bobcatfan4life]

Messina= The Spurs future messiah

[Rito3d30]

The only thing I would like to have improvement on this champion team is exactly the coaching staffs
Hope the rumor is legit.

[TheCerebral1]

A great and underrated move. Will help with the culture, and gives some breath to fresh ideas in the locker room.

[Cowboys_Wear_Spurs]

Manu has said many times he has no interest in coaching.

No, he said he might coach on the Argentina National team someday, but that's all. He didn't have any interest in coaching at a club level.

[Uriel]

I think posters are confusing the words "resigned" and "re-signed." Read the article guys. Messina resigned from his contract. That means he is no longer under contract. Reports say that the Spurs are going to sign him after the draft.
No one was confusing "resign" and "re-sign." That's so idiotic.

My bump stemmed from the premise that the Spurs would announce Messina as an assistant after the Finals, a event which has yet to occur.

[Cowboys_Wear_Spurs]

Who is he replacing on the coaching staff?

Sean Marks more than likely. Sean was in the front office (director of business operations for the Toros) before moving to the bench this year. He might make the move back to an executive role or get a promotion elsewhere.

[Seventyniner]

He'll then hand off the keys of a stable franchise, most likely to a trusted assistant, and retire into the sunset to drink fancy wine and play games of Risk in his basement.

Diplomacy tbh.

http://grantland.com/features/diplomacy-the-board-game-of-the-alpha-nerds/

[ironman2886]

No one was confusing "resign" and "re-sign." That's so idiotic.

My bump stemmed from the premise that the Spurs would announce Messina as an assistant after the Finals, a event which has yet to occur.
I didn't mean to offend you, but the report clearly shows that the Spurs would announce the Messina signing after the Finals. It is technically after the finals from this past Sunday. It doesn't say, "right after the finals." Spurs have time to sign him this offseason. You also put a sad character :depressed for some reason. I asked, "why?" There were some posters and people in general who use and read the spellings interchangeable and get confused. It's not a bad thing, and it's not "idiotic."

[manufan10]

Any idea when this is going to happen? Or was it a false report?

[xmas1997]

I hope before the draft on Thursday because he is bound to have some inside information.

[Uriel]

Reporters in Europe say it will still happen. Recap on Project Spurs today:

http://projectspurs.com/2014-articles/report-spurs-to-add-ettore-messina-to-coaching-staff.html
The deal was supposed to be finalised after the NBA Draft. Well, it's after the NBA Draft now, and still nothing's happening. :(

[T Park]

The deal was supposed to be finalised after the NBA Draft. Well, it's after the NBA Draft now, and still nothing's happening. :(


You in a hurry or something?

[kobyz]

Not going to happened! I soppose Messina saw David Blut getting an head coaching job as europein coach that is not more high profile coach than him and it make him turning back from taking assistance job...

[hsxvvd]

Could be a vacancy in New Jersey...

[NickiRasgo]

How about Avery Johnson? He was celebrating with the Spurs when we won.

[mudyez]

http://www.sportando.com/en/usa/nba/124783/messina-and-hollins-serious-candidates-for-nets-head-coaching-job.html

[baseline bum]

Well shit, was hoping the report was true.

[boutons_deux]

Well shit, was hoping the report was true.

Ettore wetting his feet in the NBA behind Pop with a chance to takeover sounds a lot better than head coaching the hopele$$ Nyet$.

But the Russian billionaire's coaching salary offer, and NY attractions, may be too high to refuse, and obviously $Ms more than the Spurs could offer.

[Cowboys_Wear_Spurs]

Ettore wetting his feet in the NBA behind Pop with a chance to takeover sounds a lot better than head coaching the hopele$$ Nyet$.

But the Russian billionaire's coaching salary offer, and NY attractions, may be too high to refuse, and obviously $Ms more than the Spurs could offer.

We'll see. Nets are in a win now mode as most of their picks are traded away at this point. I think Karl gets the nod and Messina joins the Spurs. Its just smart of him to keep his options open.

[T Park]

I'd be very surprised if Lionell Hollins isn't the next coach in Brooklyn,

[Drom John]

Chris Broussard Chris_Broussard
Source: 2 of leading candidates for Nets coach - Lionel Hollins and Ettore Messina, former coach of CSKA Moscow

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Not only is Jason Kidd a freakin' cancer, he may impact the Spurs if the Nets end up going after Messina as coach.

F that guy :td

[T Park]

I've read one Nets beat writer already quoted as saying he'd be VERY surprised if Messina gets the job.

[benefactor]

Woj is saying Hollins is the leader to get the job.

[T Park]

Woj is saying Hollins is the leader to get the job.

Yeah its pretty much his if he wants it.

[Spurs9]

No way Messina is going to the Nets.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

The concerning part is that he's actually on their radar. I'm sure Hollins, if hired, will go out for his guys, but if the crazy Russian really likes Messina he'd have no problem paying him what Pop makes as HC here in SA.

[Trainwreck2100]

The concerning part is that he's actually on their radar. I'm sure Hollins, if hired, will go out for his guys, but if the crazy Russian really likes Messina he'd have no problem paying him what Pop makes as HC here in SA.

1)Does anyone actually know what Pop makes?
b)Them old ass NJ players ain't gonna listen to some foreigner

[Dex]

b)Them old ass NJ players ain't gonna listen to some foreigner

This right here.

A team like the Spurs would buy what Messina is selling every day of the week. Does anybody think the Nets (which is basically the All-Star Reject Team) are really going to want to play team-first euroball?

[benefactor]

484009057687068673

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

1)Does anyone actually know what Pop makes?
b)Them old ass NJ players ain't gonna listen to some foreigner

Pop's at $6 million. One of the NBA writers was clowning on the fact that guys like Kerr and Fisher were getting paid $5 million out of the gate relative to what Pop's making. Think Doc is the highest at 7 mil.

[jARS mEsH sEt]

Phil at his peak made $10M/year with the Lakers.

[xmas1997]

Phil at his peak made $10M/year with the Lakers.

And he wasn't worth it, he was coat tailing and poking the owners' daughter.
:lmao

[Dex]

484033457325363200

:flag:

[xmas1997]

484033457325363200

:flag:

This is what I wanted to hear.
All the rest were baseless rumors.

[mudyez]

Win/Win if he comes to SA.

Hollins might be better for "win now" Nets anyway while Messina is the guy we want as a possible Pop successor. Also best for him too, as he might go nowhere if his first station is with this effed up Nets franchise.

[Emperor]

Already in the works

https://mobile.twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/484329095312850944

[ducks]

Marc Stein @ESPNSteinLine · 9m

Sides sorting final details in hopes of wrapping up Lionel Hollins' looming deal w/Nets today. Multiyear deal w/salary in $4-to-5 mil range

[xmas1997]

Okay, Messina, your chair on the Spurs bench awaits you.
:lol
:flag:
:lobt2:

[Emperor]

Okay, Messina, you chair on the Spurs bench awaits you.
:lol
:flag:
:lobt2:

And it appears we may have a vacant spot available for him also.

https://mobile.twitter.com/projectspurs/status/484366496303312896

[xmas1997]

And it appears we may have a vacant spot available for him also.

https://mobile.twitter.com/projectspurs/status/484366496303312896

Wow, where is Marks headed?

[DesignatedT]

I could see Marks wanting back in the business side of things. I don't know just guessing.

[xmas1997]

I could see Marks wanting back in the business side of things. I don't know just guessing.

I thought that was where Bonner was headed.

[J_Paco]

I could see Marks wanting back in the business side of things. I don't know just guessing.

Makes sense since it seemed like him moving to the bench was a last minute decision to fill it out. Messina is far more experienced and his arrival could benefit the team, by giving Pop an experienced guy to lean on again, and could help him with in roads to possibly becoming a head coach in the NBA.

[tmtcsc]

Pop lost his 2 top assistants and still won a Championship. I'm sure he missed Brett and Bud but lets not go crazy here with the value of having experienced guys by your side. He won with Udoka, Marks and Indiana dude. Messina? Meh.

[TheWriter]

Wow, where is Marks headed?

Back to the front office.

[Uriel]

Please make it happen.

[100%duncan]

Pop lost his 2 top assistants and still won a Championship. I'm sure he missed Brett and Bud but lets not go crazy here with the value of having experienced guys by your side. He won with Udoka, Marks and Indiana dude. Messina? Meh.

It's more about being Pop's heir than being an assistant imho. I really believe Pop will go with Duncan.

[jeebus]

Took a little while but glad we hired him.

[xmas1997]

Finally!!!!!!!!
The heir apparent.

[sexinthatsx]

I already posted this but it bears repeating. According my legit Popovich family source, Pop retires this off season and needs hip surgery. There is a small chance of one more season. This will be Pop's replacement, and it is a genius move.

And I don't make shit up guys. Look at my post history.

Apparently this guy's "legit" Popovich family source was wrong. BUMP