Perkins Says He Feels Lakers’ Pain : Pro basketball: But he’s starting to get comfortable in Seattle as he faces former team for first time since trade.

A piece of Sam Perkins’ heart remains with the Lakers, but he is beginning to enjoy Seattle.

“It’s pretty cool here,” said Perkins, who will be in the starting lineup today when he faces the Lakers for the first time since the trade that sent him to the SuperSonics for Benoit Benjamin and the rights to Doug Christie on Feb. 22.

“I’d be crazy to say I don’t like it. You hear some negative stuff, but you have to experience it. When it rains, people here don’t even use umbrellas--in New York, they’d take out an umbrella if it rains a drop. And all you do here is drink coffee.

“City-wise, it’s cool. On the court, I’m still adjusting.”

Perkins was worked slowly into the lineup by Coach George Karl and started seven games. He usually comes off the bench, a move Perkins says he can live with.

He averaged 13.7 points and 7.7 rebounds in 49 games with the Lakers and is averaging 11.5 points and 5.0 rebounds for the SuperSonics, whose 50-24 record is the second-best in the Western Conference.

“I respond to (Karl’s) actions,” Perkins said. “When he started me, I responded to that. Now, I know my role coming off the bench: It’s to score and get some movement on the court.

“By all means, I’m not completely comfortable. There’s always something new for me to learn. If I was with the Lakers, I’d be flowing into the offense and defense. Here, I’m not as comfortable, but I’m adjusting. They’re treating me well, and it’s a lot of fun.

“I think we have enough talent to win it, but we have to be sharp and focused.”

Perkins still follows the Lakers and said he wasn’t surprised to see James Worthy taken out of the starting lineup or that Elden Campbell (“I call him my protege”) is doing well as a starter. But he’s not gloating over the Lakers’ slide since his departure. “I know what Randy (Pfund) and the guys are going through. I saw their heartbreak against the Phoenix Suns and I just know,” Perkins said, referring to their last-second, 115-114 loss Tuesday night.

“I have no resentment for the Lakers at all. I understand what they said they were trying to do when they traded me. It’s kind of hard to assess the trade because Doug has only played (14) games and Benoit, well, I don’t know much about that.

“It’s going to be strange to play against them, no doubt about it. They were my teammates.”