Change Coming To Lakers Coaching Staff

We already know the Los Angeles Lakers are going to have a new look come the start of next season. Whether it’s a Jonah Hill slimming or a Joan Rivers overhaul remains to be seen. But change is coming.

Typically the talk has been about the changes that need to be made to the roster. But if you believe Magic Johnson then Mike Brown and his entire staff is one bad loss away from being shown handed a pink slip. That would lean more towards the previously mentioned Joan Rivers approach.

Even though its not the blow’d up real good method Johnson seeks the Lakers coaching staff is changing.

Consultant Ettore Messina is returning to CSKA Moscow where he once coached previously. This after Mitch Kupchak recently expressed his desire to retain Messina. When he was first hired last season it was speculated that Messina would be helping Coach Brown devise an effective offensive scheme.

Yeah…that didn’t go over so well.

Not blaming Messina as we don’t completely know his involvement with the team this past year but if he was to be the offensive guru then either Brown tuned him out or Messina’s system wasn’t a good fit. No matter how you slice it he’s on his way back to European hoops.

Another coach that could be off to his next gig is Quin Snyder who is said to be getting strong consideration for the Charlotte Bobcats opening. Snyder, who I won’t refer to as having the appearance of a coked up stock broker, interviewed last week and is in the running to work for Michael Jordan along with former Lakers assistant Brian Shaw.

While none of these happenings is a direct reflection on Coach Brown’s first season in L.A. it does indicate that there is a need for new voices. Kupchak offered Messina a contract and he chose to head back overseas. Can’t say being a consultant is a better job then being a head coach but if Messina’s goal was to segue into coaching in the NBA then he’s heading in the wrong direction. One could read between the lines and say Messina got a rude awakening or it could just be that he’s happier coaching in Russia.

As for Snyder, it’s the same kind of deal. Every assistant has aspirations to be a head coach at the highest level. Charlotte might be a glorified D-League team but it’s an NBA job none the less. The Lakers aren’t going to stand in his way when it comes to taking on the biggest opportunity of his career. If he’s offered the job Snyder would be foolish not to take it.

If Snyder departs that will already be two members of Brown’s staff that must be replaced. Could there be more to come? Who knows? All I know is Magic Johnson won’t rest until Coach Brown is shown the exit or the Dodgers win the series. Whichever happens first.