OKC plucking from Spurs' coaching tree?

[jmard5]

Sources tell ESPN.com's Marc Stein that San Antonio assistant coach Ettore Messina is a candidate on OKC GM Sam Presti's radar. Messina (pictured next to Becky Hammon) has long been regarded as Europe's most successful coach in addition to his Spurs ties

-ESPN
http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/

[DMC]

Yeah they need more run and gun green lighting.

[mystargtr34]

Hopefully they nab Boylen tbh .

[Malik Hairston]

:lol can't imagine Messina going from the Spurs to Westbrook, tbh..

[apalisoc_9]

Hopefully they nab Boylen tbh .

:lol

[apalisoc_9]

If messina is smart, he wouldn't go for it. I love KD and Westbrook but they are two of the hardest guys to coach in the league...

[Mel_13]

Westbrook and Messina seems an unlikely pairing. Just some carefully planted noise to expedite a decision by his preferred candidate.

[SpurPadre]

If we let them get Boylen, it would be an even better sabotage to that team than them having Brooks! Boylen can forget he has Westbrook during games and recommend Ayres as their starting big over Ibaka! Come on, Presti, get Boylen!!!!!

[Spurs 4 The Win]

Maybe they will take Hammon :lol

[ElNono]

Once the season is over, coach Messina should listen at the offer, tbh... might be a great chance for him, regardless of perceived fit...

[DrunkTXLabrat]

They should hire Robert Horry.

[Horry Hipcheck]

They should just hire Westbrook tbh

[Chinook]

Please take him.

[spurraider21]

Hopefully they nab Boylen tbh .
:lol this

[apalisoc_9]

Please take him.

you dont like messina? why?

[heyheymymy]

No mention of Ollie? I know he's not likely but they are pursuing him too and KD/WB both found him influential.

[DMC]

If messina is smart, he wouldn't go for it. I love KD and Westbrook but they are two of the hardest guys to coach in the league...
Since you've coached neither of them I don't see how you'd know that. I'd think they are both very easy to coach, they have a shit ton of talent and with the right guidance they could be champs, and they know it. Great players want to be coached by someone who they know can get them there. Very few want to go it on their own.

[FlAVaK]

Maybe they will take Hammon :lol

I totally expected this to be the first reply to the topic :lol

[adonis827]

They can get Matt Bonner next year

[Spurs 4 The Win]

I totally expected this to be the first reply to the topic :lol

Me too, thats why I posted it :lol

[Uriel]

Messina has already said that he wasn't going to the Spurs as a stepping stone for a bigger position elsewhere, but that he was committed to the organization over the long-haul.

[Genjuro]

Sources tell ESPN.com's Marc Stein that San Antonio assistant coach Ettore Messina is a candidate on OKC GM Sam Presti's radar. Messina (pictured next to Becky Hammon) has long been regarded as Europe's most successful coach in addition to his Spurs ties

-ESPN
http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/

Well, he's not Europe's more successful coach by any means. That would be Obradovic.

Actually Messina lost step in his last seasons in Europe. His tenure as Real Madrid coach and his second stint in CSKA Moscow were very disappointing.

[Chinook]

you dont like messina? why?

I just don't think he added anything, and he's currently penciled in as Pop's successor. I think that would be a horrible move. No way do I want Messina coaching the next gen of Spurs. He'd probably run them into the ground.

[Raven]

Please yes and take beli with you

[Raven]

would be great if manu is the next coach.

[UZER]

Why? Does KD want to become system player?

[K...]

Ollie withdrew yesterday so he's out. Donovan was the next name but I haven't heard anything.

This is one of a few things:

Sportswriter needs a story. Saw bud cry, wrote "spurs assistant to be considered for HC, control P "messina"

Okc sabotage "maybe a distraction will cause some chaos, hahaha missing the playoffs is fun

Or maybe messina is prepping to leave, but not this one , just subscribing to the "future head coach listserv" but not the retread one. The good one, the one Kerr and blatt were in.


Regarding messina, he may have said the right thing about staying but there's no iron clad contract to stop him from leaving. I mean I'm sure he changed his thinking when blatt got hired. A Euro coach with no nba exp coaching LeBron? Yes plz. But I'm sure messina is smart enough not to go to a team rival.go east. Take the Lakers job. But hell no okc. Fuck you presti

[hater]

Send them Becky and a box of balloons

[Chillen]

Vinny Del Negro, perfect Scott Brooks replacement. So when they lose Durant, they have another fall guy coach.

[bklynspursfan]

I just don't think he added anything, and he's currently penciled in as Pop's successor. I think that would be a horrible move. No way do I want Messina coaching the next gen of Spurs. He'd probably run them into the ground.

It's probably a bit of a learning curve for him. We don't know what goes on behind the scenes, and we don't really know what Bud did on the bench/in practices, etc... he just happened to know what Pop wanted to do because he spent so much time with him.

IMO, it's a bit early to judge what he's done or what he'd be capable of in the future.

[K...]

This is not really a coached team. What's messina going to do, upset the championship Apple cart? Also just cuz you suck as a spurs coach, you can still coach the Lakers. Vinny del Negro is a great example. Just a patina of spurs exp will open the doors.

Nba coaching is weird. Competency is like he fourth most important thing;

Do the players like him?
Do the fans like him?
Is he tall and attractive or a famous former player?
Does he know how to coach?

[BadOne]

Hopefully they nab Boylen tbh .

Word

[Chinook]

Messina is a good coach, but the Spurs don't need some guy to come in and impress his way on them after Pop leaves. I actually think it makes the most sense for them to hire a young coach and let him learn on the job. It doesn't take a genius to let Kawhi and whoever else is a top option on the team run the show, and the Spurs already know how to play D.

You can't replace Pop, so don't try. Let someone try to build their own legacy.

[K...]

Yeah, maybe the spurs let messina become coach but on the condition that he retains udoka and Becky and have them establish brand continuity. Udoka is your young coach. Messina can keep the seat warm and then leave.

It's really all dependent on whether we bring back the team or strip down to kawhi and parts. Different coaching needs depending on team make up

[peacemaker885]

Pop signed a five year contract last season so I don't think Messina will be head coach soon on the Spurs. I see him on a different team next year or the year after that. He's too good to be an assistant IMO.

[houston spurs fan]

Billy Donovan looks like a top candidate according to Woj. Good for the Spurs I think

[Raven]

Ollie withdrew yesterday so he's out. Donovan was the next name but I haven't heard anything.

This is one of a few things:

Sportswriter needs a story. Saw bud cry, wrote "spurs assistant to be considered for HC, control P "messina"

Okc sabotage "maybe a distraction will cause some chaos, hahaha missing the playoffs is fun

Or maybe messina is prepping to leave, but not this one , just subscribing to the "future head coach listserv" but not the retread one. The good one, the one Kerr and blatt were in.


Regarding messina, he may have said the right thing about staying but there's no iron clad contract to stop him from leaving. I mean I'm sure he changed his thinking when blatt got hired. A Euro coach with no nba exp coaching LeBron? Yes plz. But I'm sure messina is smart enough not to go to a team rival.go east. Take the Lakers job. But hell no okc. Fuck you presti

not really fair comparison tbh

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmlXPip1D1Q

[The Reckoning]

:cry bring bud back :cry

[houston spurs fan]

I think Monty is gone after last night...could be on Pops staff next year another assistant bolts...

[SanDiegoSpursFan]

If Messina gets an offer from OKC or NOLA he would be dumb not to take it. OKC would have pressure to win but he'd have a very talented roster and would probably win 55+ games his first season if healthy. NOLA he would likely have some leeway and would have Davis for 5+ years. I can't really see any possible coaching jobs that would top either of those.

[Spurs9]

They need Luke Walton