Lakers Begin Newest Chase Toward a Title

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.

It was the usual routine in the practice gym in El Segundo, a television in the corner, a handful of reporters and a radio crew sitting through most of the recognizable names.

Bryant apparently was at Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Ore., building shoes and rehabilitating his surgically repaired shoulder. O’Neal was in Orlando, Fla., building his body. Presumably, they watched.

The more critical part of the process, in the short term, begins Tuesday, when teams may begin negotiating with free agents, then July 16, when they may sign them.

Jackson, appearing fresh and healthy almost two months after his angioplasty procedure, said the organization has a “hit list” of desirable free agents and that the chase would start Tuesday morning.

“I know what we’re capable of doing, and I know what Shaq’s capable of doing when he puts his mind to it in a ballgame, dominating ballgames,” Jackson said. “I feel strongly that if we add talent to this ballclub and get ourselves back with some youth and some veterans like we feel we can, we’re going to be right back in a spot where we’re the hunted and not hunting.

“We know what we have to return to.... We lost that spirit of ball movement and unselfishness last year that we had when we were champions. That’s what has to return, that ability to sacrifice and play a team game that brought us those championships. We can do that. We learned a lesson last year.”

Jackson called his last meeting with O’Neal “difficult” and “protracted,” but believed O’Neal left town with additional motivation, perhaps none of it provided by Jackson.

“I anticipate, with everybody talking about how great Tim Duncan is and how he’s the best big player in the game, Shaq is down there gritting his teeth every time he hears that kind of comment,” Jackson said. “Knowing his abilities, he’s saying to himself, ‘I’m going to prove to them next year who is the best big player in the league.’ It’s pretty obvious to us he’s the man with the power game and Duncan is the man with the finesse game. Shaq’s got the opportunity to prove that to the people in the NBA.”

Into all of that steps Cook, one of nine first-round picks to play four years in college. He averaged 20 points and 7.6 rebounds as a senior. A rangy 6-foot-9 1/2, Cook has a good mid-range jumper and runs well and was expected to go much higher.

But, he said, “I think I fell into a great situation.”

Slava Medvedenko could be the only returning player at power forward, though the Lakers are expected to ask Mark Madsen and Robert Horry back, and they will pursue several in free agency.

Walton averaged 10.8 points his senior season, much of which was spent on a sore ankle. The Lakers admire his knack for playmaking. If he plays well, he might get some early time at small forward, particularly if Rick Fox has not recovered from foot surgery.

On Thursday night, he said, his father’s eyes welled with pride.

“I’m as happy as can be,” Luke said. “L.A. is the best place I could possibly be.... I couldn’t ask for anything else.”

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Jackson, on the coming weeks: “We need to go out and get veteran players to play with our team. We have a hit list of what we want to do on July 1. Come that day, we’re going to go out there, starting at midnight, and go after ballplayers on our list and go aggressively after them and ask them to play for our team because of the way we think they could help us.” ... Jackson said he would consider discussions to extend his contract later in the summer. His contract ends after next season.... The club has until Monday to exercise the $5.3-million option on Horry’s contract. The team is expected to allow him into free agency and ask him to return at a cut rate.... Walton, who some scouts thought was too heavy, said he has lost 12 pounds. Even at 232 pounds, Walton said he believed he could play power forward.... Cook’s father, Norman, was the No. 1 pick of the Boston Celtics in 1976 but played only one season for them. The two aren’t close.