The Lakers believe they started back on Thursday night, from a six-game loss in the Western Conference semifinals, from the roster erosion that killed their run of NBA championships at three, finally able to do something after six weeks of pondering.

They began the process of rebuilding their roster around Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, first at No. 24 of the NBA draft with Brian Cook, a power forward from Illinois, then three picks into the second round with Luke Walton, a small forward from Arizona and son of Bill, a Hall of Famer and former UCLA star.

Coach Phil Jackson called them "ballplayers that fit the style of basketball we want to play," both somewhat refined after four years of college, then added, "We have to assume that rookies aren't going to help us."

Still, there was a sense the Lakers inched away from all that failed them at season's end, starting a month-long period that could bring the help that they certainly require, and that O'Neal expects.