Lakers have received permission from the Spurs to interview Ettore Messina

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...arch/83522986/

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The Los Angeles Lakers are wasting no time in their coaching search.

According to a person with knowledge of the situation, the Lakers have received permission from the San Antonio Spurs to interview their lead assistant coach, Ettore Messina, as a possible replacement for the recently departed Byron Scott.

It is unclear how soon the team plans to interview Messina, the widely-respected Italian coach who won four Euroleague titles and was twice the Euroleague coach of the year before spending the 2011-12 NBA season on the Lakers coaching staff headed by Mike D’Antoni. The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because of the private nature of the search.

While many names have been mentioned, Messina and Golden State Warriors assistant Luke Walton are believed to be on the Lakers’ unofficial short list. Messina, who is also being considered for the Sacramento Kings’ head coaching vacancy, joined Gregg Popovich and his San Antonio staff in July of 2014.

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Spurs should sign Blatt as an assistant if Messina leaves, assuming Blatt doesn't get a head coaching offer.

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Originally Posted by baseline bum

Spurs should sign Blatt as an assistant if Messina leaves, assuming Blatt doesn't get a head coaching offer.

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That would be a dream scenario. Lose Messina (I don't hate him, but wouldn't mind him gone) and land Blatt.

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Originally Posted by DPG21920

That would be a dream scenario. Lose Messina (I don't hate him, but wouldn't mind him gone) and land Blatt.

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This.

Please take him.

And no Blatt. The Spurs already have too many assistants. They don't need to hire a new lead. Just let the best of Udoka and Borrego do it.

Good for Messina. A head coaching job has been his agenda from day one.

Addition by subtraction tbh.

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Originally Posted by Chinook

Please take him.

And no Blatt. The Spurs already have too many assistants. They don't need to hire a new lead. Just let the best of Udoka and Borrego do it.

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I can't help but feel that SA lost something losing Bud. I for one like having leads as assistants especially since Pop is clearly the Alpha and there is no chance of a power struggle.

How about we get Brett Brown back once he gets inevitably fired?

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Originally Posted by DPG21920

I can't help but feel that SA lost something losing Bud. I for one like having leads as assistants especially since Pop is clearly the Alpha and there is no chance of a power struggle.

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Um, we're talking about lead assistants here. Pop will have one no matter what. Of course the Spurs lost something without Bud. They replaced with him Jim "Ka-who?" Boylen. That was a drop-off. Then they brought Messina in, and that hasn't really gotten better. Let Borrego and Udoka and Hammond grow and stop adding in new guys. You can easily mess things up doing that.

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Originally Posted by Chinook

Um, we're talking about lead assistants here. Pop will have one no matter what. Of course the Spurs lost something without Bud. They replaced with him Jim "Ka-who?" Boylen. That was a drop-off. Then they brought Messina in, and that hasn't really gotten better. Let Borrego and Udoka and Hammond grow and stop adding in new guys. You can easily mess things up doing that.

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Not if Brown becomes available.

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Originally Posted by Chinook

Um, we're talking about lead assistants here. Pop will have one no matter what. Of course the Spurs lost something without Bud. They replaced with him Jim "Ka-who?" Boylen. That was a drop-off. Then they brought Messina in, and that hasn't really gotten better. Let Borrego and Udoka and Hammond grow and stop adding in new guys. You can easily mess things up doing that.

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:lol I know we are talking about lead assistants and there is always one, give me some credit. I was referring to the lead assistant being an actual "lead" as in true head coaching material.

I'm fine if they let it happen from within, I'm just saying I like having a Bud level guy on the team behind Pop and Blatt I think is there.

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Originally Posted by DPG21920

:lol I know we are talking about lead assistants and there is always one, give me some credit. I was referring to the lead assistant being an actual "lead" as in true head coaching material.

I'm fine if they let it happen from within, I'm just saying I like having a Bud level guy on the team behind Pop and Blatt I think is there.

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I actually think Bud is overrated. I haven't been impressed with his coaching job in Atlanta.

If it's any consolation, Don Newman should be available again.

Totally agree with not missing Messina if he goes. My expectation, though, is that the Lakers go for Walton, given all the associations with the Waltons.

I would still hope that Messina goes somewhere else. I just don't see any of the players except Ginobili ever paying any attention to him.

I could see Brown coming back here and I would go for that. Anybody see any of the current Spurs becoming assistants on this staff?

No worries Spur Fans. It will be Kevin Ollie.

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Originally Posted by EVAY

Totally agree with not missing Messina if he goes. My expectation, though, is that the Lakers go for Walton, given all the associations with the Waltons.

I would still hope that Messina goes somewhere else. I just don't see any of the players except Ginobili ever paying any attention to him.

I could see Brown coming back here and I would go for that. Anybody see any of the current Spurs becoming assistants on this staff?

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Next year? No. Eventually? I could see Duncan being a coach. I think he likes that part too much to be in the front office. Rasual isn't on the team anymore, but I could see him being a Spur. Miller might be a coach, but I don't know if it would be in SA. Bonner would probably be in the front office of SA or TOR. That's about it for guys who are old enough for me to feel comfortable projecting.

Bring Brett back tbh.

Definitely gotta bring brett back after Durant signs.

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Originally Posted by Chinook

Next year? No. Eventually? I could see Duncan being a coach. I think he likes that part too much to be in the front office. Rasual isn't on the team anymore, but I could see him being a Spur. Miller might be a coach, but I don't know if it would be in SA. Bonner would probably be in the front office of SA or TOR. That's about it for guys who are old enough for me to feel comfortable projecting.

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:bobo Thx. I was thinking that about Duncan too. I could see Manu as a coach, but not in SA.

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Originally Posted by LkrFan

No worries Spur Fans. It will be Kevin Ollie.

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Yeah...have fun with that.

They'll go with Walton because their roster is filled with chuckleheads who won't listen to some Euro dude.

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Originally Posted by DPG21920

That would be a dream scenario. Lose Messina (I don't hate him, but wouldn't mind him gone) and land Blatt.

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Messina installed the epic defense during training camp:wakeup

Good riddance. Take the Italian scrub. Please take him

No Messina = no elite defense

Wow I think I am the only one that would miss him.:lol
Frankly the one loss to the Pacers we had this season in that game he coached, he rode the stars and older players as much as he could get away with Pop's minutes limits, but he rode them coach Thibodeau style. I didn't like that.

Usually when something is not working Pop gets on guys and even benches whoever he deems the culprit for a few minutes switching lineups and adding energy guys. It's worked for Pop to develop players, find talent and get rest for vets as well as win games he w as losing anyways. I do like how attentive he is to defensive assignments and how encouraging he seems to be of players. One of the few coaches I see genuinely clapping and cheering good plays by players. He could have trouble reaching young players as some point out. Our guys are fairly sophisticated as teams go.

Wish him the best.

We still have Becky.

It was only a matter of time until someone poaches Messina. He's already 55-56. He's not going to wait around until he's 60 for Pop to retire. Pop's replacement should definitely be younger. Kind of wondering how Udoka is progressing as a coach.

It was a luxury having someone as experienced as Messina around to do the assistant work and Pop doesn't have to worry about games when he's ejected. But sooner or later, someone will grab Messina.

Maybe the Hawks will be crater in the next few years and Bud can come back.

I was joking about Becky, but if Pop really stays for four or more years, I really could see that happening.

And I would love it!

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Originally Posted by Chinook

Then they brought Messina in, and that hasn't really gotten better.

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Any reasons why it seems like this is how most people here feel?

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Originally Posted by Chinook

I actually think Bud is overrated. I haven't been impressed with his coaching job in Atlanta.

If it's any consolation, Don Newman should be available again.

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No, Bud has been impressive in leading the Hawks to an impressive record in the league last season, the players just couldn't execute down the stretch for the playoffs. With the players on that team, what Bud did was pretty amazing.

I like Udoka a lot. The players all go to him as well...he seems to have their respect.

Maybe that melee in Africa, where he fought his team out of the arena helps with the respect bit ;)

Why is everyone saying they want Messina out and acting like they actually know if he's doing a good or bad job? Am I missing something? :lol

Take Becky and let this circus on another comedy tour

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Originally Posted by DAF86

Why is everyone saying they want Messina out and acting like they actually know if he's doing a good or bad job? Am I missing something? :lol

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my thoughts exactly:lol

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Originally Posted by mudyez

We still have Becky.

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If there's a successor to Pop on the bench, it's probably her. The Lakers deserve Messina. Not in love with what I've seen from him when Pop has been out.

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Originally Posted by baseline bum

Spurs should sign Blatt as an assistant if Messina leaves, assuming Blatt doesn't get a head coaching offer.

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Lebron really fucked Blatt. Its hard for players to respect a coach that was neutered, ignored on plays, pushed out of huddles and told to fuck off. The image is gone and I doubt you'll see Blatt get a HC job in the NBA.

Blatt was doomed when he did this:

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/...7y0g66uw16.gif

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Originally Posted by SpurPadre

How about we get Brett Brown back once he gets inevitably fired?

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Coach Brown won't be fired as long as the Front Office is tanking. That's on them, not him.

fuck

everyone is raiding is

thievessssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!!!!!

Manu can coach, tbh

Why are some of you convinced that Messina is doing a bad job on the Spurs?

I'd really like to see some insight on this, because I've been wondering this myself but couldn't see any evidence of it.

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Originally Posted by Slomo

Why are some of you convinced that Messina is doing a bad job on the Spurs?

I'd really like to see some insight on this, because I've been wondering this myself but couldn't see any evidence of it.

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agreed. Anyone want to back up their opinion or is it just not a big concern that he may leave? We know he is talented.

Messina has proven himself. He's a good coach. A very good coach. He hasn't been with the Spurs for such a long time, so losing him now might not be quite as disruptive as it might be. But the reports were that he was involved with the team for years before he left Europe and came here - so there is some knowledge drain involved.

If he feels like he is the heir apparent, and that Pop might have the end in sight, I think he will stay here. If not, why wouldn't he consider some head coaching offers elsewhere?

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Originally Posted by Slomo

Why are some of you convinced that Messina is doing a bad job on the Spurs?

I'd really like to see some insight on this, because I've been wondering this myself but couldn't see any evidence of it.

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As an assistant coach he's fine, and I've heard several people with the team cite him as the architect of the Spurs' defense (albeit I think it has more to do with the Spurs having several elite defenders and vets who know how to play both ends). However, during the times he's taken over HC duties I've been extremely underwhelmed. His rotations made zero sense, he overplayed certain players that shouldn't have been, and made changes/called timeouts at points where the team had momentum and killed it or refused to do so when the team was melting down. A lot of the younger players also seem to tune him out at times from what others have said; I never really paid attention to it but it could also be an issue.

Why is Messina so great tbh? I haven't really seen much from him on the Spurs, haven't seen him in interviews or know what affect he has. I just hear about how he was a great coach overseas, did he win championships? What are you guys so excited about him on the NBA level about?

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Originally Posted by DAF86

Why is everyone saying they want Messina out and acting like they actually know if he's doing a good or bad job? Am I missing something? :lol

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:lol the voice of the reason right there