A Marquee Player Is at the Top of Lakers’ Shopping List : Pro basketball: General Manager Jerry West doesn’t want to rip up team and start over, but he does have plenty of work to do.

OK Jerry West, now what?

Usually at this time of year, the Laker general manager has either been accepting congratulations on winning a championship or fine-tuning his team by looking for someone to spell Magic Johnson for a few minutes.

This year is different. He has to replace Magic Johnson.

“I don’t think we’ve known where this basketball team is all year long,” West said in his Forum office Monday. “We’ve gone through a really bizarre year, filled with a lot of emotion, a lot of hurt.

“I think, to this team’s credit and this franchise’s credit, we haven’t dwelled on that. We tried to get through the season as best we could. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, in some respects this is one of our most gratifying years.”

On the other hand, they are the Lakers, and 43 victories next season will not be as gratifying.

Here are West’s thoughts, as the Lakers arrive at their crossroads:

--He wants to acquire a marquee player.

--He doesn’t believe Johnson will be back.

--He wants a point guard.

--He won’t rip up this team and start over.

West wouldn’t comment on specific players, but the 76ers are known to be shopping Charles Barkley and there is speculation that the Rockets will shop Hakeem Olajuwon. There will be marquee players on the market.

“I think we need a major player,” West said. “I think it’s easier for us to build around a major player, both from an economic standpoint and a winning standpoint.

“For some reason, our franchise has always had someone that people like to watch play. I think when you go back and analyze it, maybe that provided the impetus for making it such an attractive team. We’ve gone through a wonderful period where our fans were treated to a tremendous bunch of players--and I think in some sense they might almost expect that. . . . I feel it’s easier to play this game with a dominant-type player. I’ve always felt that, and I still feel that.”

West, on the possibility of Johnson’s return: “Magic Johnson, we have to consider him a retired player, period.”

On Laker needs: “We need some help in our backcourt. We need a player back there who can do a few more things than we have right now. And I’m not saying that in a detrimental way because the people back there did a fine job, but we need something in addition. We need another ballhandler who can make plays, besides Sedale (Threatt).”

And the possibility of ripping this team up: “I feel that’s cold, almost. Our intention is to have a team that is very representative and plays at a high level. We made the playoffs, which some people take delight in, but we would rather be continuing to play at this time and that’s what we’ll work toward. And I don’t think you do that by ripping the team apart.”

West has the 15th pick in the draft plus the $1.25 million slot left by Johnson’s retirement to work with.

Laker Notes

Terry Teagle, whose late-season push helped propel the Lakers into the playoffs, will become an unrestricted free agent--and a bargain. He made $700,000 this season. Coach Mike Dunleavy wants Teagle back and says he can find the 30 minutes a game that he needs. Dunleavy hopes to reduce James Worthy’s minutes next season and could play Teagle at small forward and shooting guard. . . . Byron Scott, asked about trade rumors: “I’m not going to let them ruin my summer. I’ll just hold my head up high for the way we played this season and go on with my life.”

Jerry West on Charles Barkley’s announcement that he spent January talking to the Laker general manager: “That’s absolutely, totally wrong. His agent called me one time. Charles has a way of exaggerating.” . . . West says he hasn’t talked to the Rockets. NBC had floated a rumor that he would offer a Vlade Divac-Sam Perkins package for Hakeem Olajuwon.