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The Lakers new head coach is trying to assemble one impressive coaching staff alongside him. Here is a major roundup of who Brown and the Lakers are after.
The Los Angeles Times reports Brown wants Michael Malone; a main reason for the Hornets’ DEFENSIVE turnaround:
Brown has contacted New Orleans Hornets Coach Monty Williams to express his interest in having Hornets assistant Michael Malone join him in Los Angeles, according to an NBA official briefed on the matter who was not authorized to speak publicly. Malone was given the defensive reins in Cleveland. His reputation as a defensive-minded coach continued in New Orleans because he helped the Hornets become the fifth-ranked defensive team in the NBA last season, allowing 94 points per game.
Additionally, Brown is seeking Pistons’ head coach John Kuester.
Kuester’s job with the Pistons is tenuous because of the revolt from his players during the past season when five of them skipped a practice. Kuester was on Brown’s staff in Cleveland as an assistant from 2007 to 2009. Kuester was named head coach of the Pistons in 2009.
Brown is also after one of the top Euro-coaches named Ettore Messina, a savvy coach as Eric Pincus of Hoopsworld explains:
Messina coached Virtus Bologna to two Euroleague titles (1998 & 2001, the latter with star Manu Ginobili). He also ran Benetton Treviso and CSKA Moscow (winner of Euroleague title in 2006 and 2008). Most recently he was the head coach for Real Madrid. Messina is a tough coach with a strong personality. He likes to call his team’s plays and has a successful history developing players, especially in the post. Sources say Brown has asked Messina to join him with the Lakers but a decision has yet to be made.
Woj tweets and suggests that Chuck Person could stay aboard through the Brown transition as well:
Lakers assistant Chuck Person has good relationship with Brown back to Pacers days. “That could help Mike’s transition,” says league exec.
Lastly, as Woj tweeted, Brown wants Grgurich. Problem is he is currently employed by the Mavs and a championship for Dallas could keep Tim with that squad. Nevertheless, Brown will make a bid for him to join the Lakers as well:
Mike Brown expected to make bid for well-regarded Dallas assistant Tim Grgurich to join Lakers staff, sources say. They’re close friends.
The Lakers new coaching staff would feature basketball gurus and defensive minded coaches with much, versatile experience. If you’re one of the fans on the fence about the Mike Brown hire, reconsider it and look at the impressive DEFENSIVE-minded coaching staff he is currently after:
- Ettore Messina
- Tim Grgurich
- Michael Malone
- Chuck Person
- John Kuester
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