Italian Coach Ettore Messina has agreed to work for the L.A. Lakers on Coach Mike Brown’s staff.

According to Zeno Pisani of Rivista Ufficiale NBA, Italy, a deal was agreed to on Friday.  Pisani notes Messina will serve as “consultant to the head coach” in a full-time position.

It would seem Messina will help Brown in a similar capacity that Tex Winter served former Laker Coach Phil Jackson.

{AUTHOR_BOX}Other names linked to the Lakers staff are Chuck Person, John Kuester, Tim Grgurich and Mike Malone, who is first interviewing with the Golden State Warriors for the head coaching job.

Grgurich has been helping the Dallas Mavericks this past year.  It may be difficult for the Lakers to pry Tim away from Mark Cuban but Brown and “Grg” have a long-standing relationship.

Messina is one of the most well-respected coaches internationally.  He’s long-wanted to break into the NBA, ideally as a head coach.  He was in discussions with the Toronto Raptors before they went with Jay Triano.

Although the Raptors job has opened back up, it appears Ettore’s first position in the NBA will be with the Lakers.

HOOPSWORLD previously reported Laker ties to Messina last week Ettore Messina a Candidate for Laker Assistant.