Ettore Messina, the highly successful European coach who led Mikhail Prokhorov's CSKA Moscow to two Euroleague titles, is apparently bound for the Lakers as an assistant to Mike Brown, who'll be introduced as head coach in the next few days.

Messina has long been rumored as possibility for the Nets' bench, first as head coach before Avery Johnson, then as an assistant after he left Real Madrid and a $3 million job earlier this year. Messina has said that while he harbored NBA ambitions, he'd need a couple of years as an assistant. Having an assistant with NBA ambitions (and a previous relationship with Prokhorov) might have been an awkward situation for the Johnson and the Nets, who do have an assistant job open with the departure of Larry Krystkowiak.

• Ettore Messina a Candidate for Laker Assistant - Eric Pincus - HoopsWorld