HOOPSWORLD | Basketball News & NBA Rumors

The Los Angeles Lakers finally made official the hiring of Ettore Messina as “Coaching Consultant” to Head Coach Mike Brown.

“I am honored to have received this opportunity from one of the greatest basketball organizations in the world,” said Messina in a statement released by the team. “I have great respect for Coach Mike Brown and I’m excited to work with him and his staff.”

HOOPSWORLD was first to report LA’s interest in Messina back in late May (Ettore Messina a Candidate for Laker Assistant) and then in early June that the two sides had reached an agreement (Lakers: Messina to Consult Brown).

The Italian Messina is one of Europe’s most well-respected coaches.

Of course the question remains, will he get the opportunity to actually work with the Lakers?

{AUTHOR_BOX}Sources say Messina can exit after one year and if the current lockout isn’t resolved before the season is missed, Ettore and the Lakers may end up nothing more than a novel idea that never reached fruition.

The owners and players would like to wrap up the labor dispute before ditching the entire year, so hopefully it’s a moot point.

Messina, “named one of Euroleague’s 10 Greatest All-Time Coaches in 2008″ according to the release, has four Euroleague titles with Virtus Bologna and CSKA Moscow along with four Italian and four Russian national championships.

Messina is expected to be a behind the bench assistant in a similar role as Tex Winter (for former Coach Phil Jackson).

The Lakers have also hired John Kuester, Quin Synder and Chuck Person as Brown’s primary assistant coaches.  Jim Boylen is also expected to be on staff although that has yet to be announced.