Spurs to announce Ettore Messina as assistant after the Finals

[Mel_13]

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

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

[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.

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:

http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/r...ka-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 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.