Few among the Lakers’ family react publicly to Mike Brown’s hiring

If not for Twitter, it would be very difficult to know how anyone in the Lakers’ family felt about Mike Brown being named to coach the team.

Magic Johnson and Lakers All-Star forward Pau Gasol both used Twitter on Thursday to speak out about Brown.

Otherwise, not one of the Lakers who was contacted by phone or text message responded to requests for reaction to the hiring of Brown on Wednesday to succeed Phil Jackson.

Johnson focused on Jim Buss, the Lakers’ executive vice president of player personnel, in his reaction to the news.

“For Jim Buss, this is a bold move hiring Mike Brown and I hope it all works out,” Johnson posted on his Twitter account.

Gasol said on Twitter: “I’m excited about our new coach, I hope he can lead us to more titles.”

Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw, who was a candidate for the head coaching job, remains in contention for the head-coaching job with the Golden State Warriors. He had been endorsed by several of the Lakers’ players to become their head coach.

“Brian Shaw has been a champion Laker both as a coach & a player. I hope everything works out well for him,” Johnson said on Twitter.

Brown looking for assistants

Brown still has to put together a staff of assistant coaches.

He might add little-known Ettore Messina as a part-time assistant coach. Messina coached Real Madrid the last two seasons and, before that, CSKA Moscow.

Brown also is expected to try and pry well-respected Dallas assistant Tim Grgurich from the Mavericks.

Grgurich, someone the Lakers have always liked and have sought in the past, is known for his effective defensive schemes.

Grgurich and Brown are friends.

New Orleans assistant coach Michael Malone has been mentioned as a possible candidate for Brown’s staff, but Malone is the No. 1 assistant with the Hornets and remains under contract.

broderick.turner@latimes.com

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