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Emiliano Carchia: Mike Brown on Ettore Messina: 'Truly one of the great basketball minds in the history of the sport' Twitter

Mike Brown, Ettore Messina, Los Angeles Laker, s Coaching 

There figures to be a lot of change for the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason after a second straight second-round disappointment in the playoffs. The first shoe to drop began with the coaching staff. Famed Italian coach Ettore Messina, who served as a coaching consultant to coach Mike Brown last season, is going back to Europe to coach CSKA Moscow, Messina told ESPNLosAngeles.com on Tuesday. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike Brown, Russia, Ettore Messina, CSKA Moscow 

Fran Fraschilla: Ettore Messina leaves Lakers to take over CSKA Moscow again. Told me yesterday that if he were younger would stay in NBA in hopes of top job Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Ettore Messina, CSKA Moscow 

Jonathan Givony: Ettore Messina to CSKA Moscow is confirmed. Sitting here next to Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak. Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Mitch Kupchak, Coaching, Ettore Messina, CSKA Moscow 

Marcin Gortat: I cant believe it...Ettore Messina is gone!? The best european coach in NBA. Some one should give him a shot as a head coach! Twitter

Phoenix Suns, Marcin Gortat, Ettore Messina 

Marcin Gortat: One of my dreams is to play for this coach one day! Ettore good luck in Moscow! I hope I will see u back where u belong soon.....NBA!!!!!!!! Twitter

Phoenix Suns, Marcin Gortat, Ettore Messina 

Ettore Messina: "The only chance for the Lakers to rebuild was and is to trade Pau [Gasol]. Now, maybe also [Andrew] Bynum after what'as happened this year. Jot Down

Los Angeles Lakers, Trade, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Ettore Messina 

In an interview released to Jot Down, Ettore Messina talked about his future, still between NBA and Europe. Messina spent the season in NBA with the Lakers as special assistant coach of Mike Brown. "Mitch Kupchak called me telling me: 'I've heard just great things on you and I've seen you at work. We would love to have you back with us next season'. It was a big pleasure for me. But I haven't decided yet. I have good offers from Europe and United States. I am evaluating all the proposals. When I signed in the NBA, I thought that my name would be forgotten, but this is not the case. I have never had so many offers as this season" said Ettore Messina. Sportando

Los Angeles Lakers, Mitch Kupchak, Coaching, Mike Brown, Ettore Messina 

Ettore Messina, where next? After claiming to posses the desire to coach again, the 52-year-old Italian native who spent the past season consulting Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers, is pursuing European coaching positions. After David Blatt re-signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv and Zeljko Obradovic said he's probably staying with Panathinaikos, Euroleague powerhouses CSKA Moscow and Fenerbahce Ulker are still in search of a sideline leader. Sportando

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Ettore Messina 

Ettore Messina: "I don't deny that the lure of coaching again as a head coach is very strong: if that happens, I can only say that it will be in a club where I'll know for sure I can work with people I like to be with". Panorama.it

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Ettore Messina 

Ettore Messina spent his first season in the NBA on Brown's staff after coaching for many seasons in Europe, including with the Italian national team and the Spanish club team Real Madrid. Brown said he has a place on the Lakers' bench as long as he wants it. Long Beach Press-Telegram

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike Brown, Ettore Messina 

"I have to talk to Mike and Mitch (Kupchak, the Lakers' general manager)," said Messina, who has an option on his contract for next season. "I would (like to be an NBA head coach), but it is something that's out of my control. Long Beach Press-Telegram

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike Brown, Ettore Messina 

Ettore Messina: "The good thing is I have the security to go back to Europe to coach. That's my security blanket." Long Beach Press-Telegram

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Ettore Messina 

Brown said he expects all of his assistant coaches to return for next season. He also said he expects one or more to receive interest from other teams. Ettore Messina spent his first season in the NBA on Brown's staff after coaching for many seasons in Europe, including with the Italian national team and the Spanish club team Real Madrid. Brown said he has a place on the Lakers' bench as long as he wants it. Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike Brown, Ettore Messina 

"I have to talk to Mike and Mitch (Kupchak, the Lakers' general manager)," said Messina, who has an option on his contract for next season. "I would (like to be an NBA head coach), but it is something that's out of my control. "The good thing is I have the security to go back to Europe to coach. That's my security blanket." Brown said he wouldn't be surprised if Messina, John Kuester, Chuck Person and Quin Snyder receive offers elsewhere. Kuester coached the Detroit Pistons for two ill-fated seasons before being fired and joining Brown's staff. Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Chuck Person, Coaching, Mike Brown, Ettore Messina, John Kuester, Quin Snyder 

Ettore Messina denies any agreement with Fenerbahce Ulker. In fact, if Messina decided to return to Europe his first option would be CSKA Moscow. TuBasket.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Russia, Ettore Messina, CSKA Moscow, Fenerbahce Ulker 

Can Pelister: Fenerbahce reached an agreement with Ettore Messina, who is assistant coach at Lakers now. (via @chemedya) Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Turkey, Ettore Messina 

Assistant coach John Kuester missed his fourth game to attend to family matters after the death of his mother last week. It's uncertain when he'll be back with the team. Coaching consultant Ettore Messina replaced Kuester on the bench for the fourth game. Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Ettore Messina, John Kuester 

Ettore Messina: I have to admit that before coming over here I, like many fellow Europeans, wrongly believed that we were much better shooters as compared to NBA guys. The truth is shooting percentages here are mostly the result of outstanding athleticism and savvy of the defenders. Otherwise, if you give an average player an open shot, he’ll hit it with the same consistency as your European guy. Sports.ru

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Ettore Messina 

Ettore Messina: Finally, there’s no avoiding the fact that we’re going through a special season in terms of importance of every single game. You know this common European perception that regular season NBA games sometimes lack intensity with players sleepwalking through the first two or three quarters? Well, you don’t see anything like that in a 66-game season. Every game is important. Every loss can affect your chances of making playoffs or getting a high enough seed for a long postseason run. And with the Lakers having a new head coach, new staff and new system, there’s no time for complacency. Everybody realizes we need to have a good season. I haven’t seen a single game so far where the intensity level wasn’t at its max from minute one, and one can assume it’ll only get tougher and more intense as we approach the end of the regular season and the start of the play-offs. Sports.ru

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Ettore Messina