There is rebuilding to be done, an image to buff up, a measure of pride to be restored, and chances are the deflated, humbled Lakers will achieve none of those objectives through tonight's NBA draft.

But a strategy for regaining their championship form could begin to take shape by the end of the evening, or at the latest, in the days that follow.

The Lakers choose 24th and 32nd tonight, and if recent history means anything, their picks won't amount to anything for at least two years, if ever.

The Lakers' draft hauls of the last five years have brought them marginal role players (Mark Madsen, Devean George and Tyronn Lue) and irrelevant spare parts (Sam Jacobson, John Celestand, Cory Hightower).

Such is the peril of perennially drafting low in the first round.

"You hope for a guy that can help right away," general manager Mitch Kupchak said, "but the reality is it may be a year or two, or three."