Lakers Rumors: Latest on Luke Walton, Jeff Van Gundy, Other Coaching Targets

It’s a new day for the Los Angeles Lakers. Kobe Bryant won’t be walking through the doors at the Staples Center, in a uniform at least, and head coach Byron Scott won’t be returning to the team after a 17-65 season. 

So now the Lakers, with a young, inexperienced group as the core, will look to start turning things around and restore the franchise to former glory. 

The first order of business is to find a new head coach, and the Lakers seem to be moving quickly to find one. 

According to Sam Amick of USA Today, four names have surfaced as legitimate options for the Lakers to go after this offseason. 

A source told Amick on Tuesday that the Lakers have received permission from the San Antonio Spurs to interview Ettore Messina. The Italian has been one of the top assistants under Gregg Popovich with the San Antonio Spurs for the past two years. 

He built his reputation mostly in the Euroleague, coaching four different teams along with the Italian national team. However, in 2011-12, he spent a season as a consultant for the Lakers under head coach Mike Brown, which gives him a familiarity with the organization. 

It would be a good choice for BasketballInsiders.com’s Eric Pincus:

He is certainly qualified and if Messina is the Lakers’ choice, I would be impressed by the pick …

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