Lakers Saying Aloha to the Past : Pro basketball: Youth movement is evident as training camp opens in Hawaii without Scott and Green--but with Rambis.

The setting is not right, not when Hell’s Kitchen probably would be more appropriate for what lies ahead. The Lakers have come to paradise to begin the long road back.

If there is some contradiction in that, however, it’s only fitting. Upside down may fast become the order of the day, starting with this one, when training camp opens at the University of Hawaii.

How fast?

Kurt Rambis is the newcomer.

Vlade Divac and Elden Campbell are expected to be team leaders.

A second-round pick, Nick Van Exel, may be running the offense when opening night comes Nov. 5 against Phoenix at the Forum.

Coming off a 39-43 season that saved the best for last--the gritty five-game, first-round series against the heavily favored Suns--the Lakers are committed to the youth movement and all the growing pains that go along with it. Especially when the season begins with Phoenix, Seattle, Portland, Cleveland, Golden State and Chicago within the first nine games.

Two and a half years ago, the Lakers were NBA finalists, familiar ground for this franchise. A year ago today, they still had Magic Johnson, Sam Perkins, A.C. Green and Byron Scott.

An 18-man squad reports today. That means six will have to get hurt or get waived.

Where the trims figure to come:

GUARD

In--Doug Christie, Anthony Peeler, Sedale Threatt, Nick Van Exel.

Out--Dexter Boney, Keith Johnson.

On the bubble--Duane Cooper and Tony Smith. One should make it and the other figures to have a tough time. Much could depend on whether Christie gets much time at small forward, a likely scenario.

Peeler is an automatic as the starting shooting guard. Van Exel, impressive during summer league, will be given every opportunity to supplant Threatt, valuable as a third guard because of his versatility and defense, at the point.

FORWARD

In--Elden Campbell, George Lynch, Trevor Wilson, James Worthy.

Out--Poncho Hodges.

On the bubble--Antonio Harvey, Rambis. Harvey could be worth developing, a 6-foot-11 rookie free agent who at times has reminded the Lakers of a young Larry Nance. But an 11th or 12th man will hardly play, so who can make a bigger contribution in that case? Rambis, of course, as a practice player and, most important with this group, someone to help fill a possible leadership vacuum.

Campbell is penciled in to replace Green at power forward. Who starts next to him will be one of the big decisions of camp. Maybe Christie, maybe Lynch, maybe even Worthy, who is 32 but probably still the team’s best frontcourt scorer.

CENTER

In--Sam Bowie, Vlade Divac.

On the bubble--James Edwards. He will be the third-string center, has a contract that wouldn’t be hard to swallow and will be 38 on Nov. 22 on a team that wants to be athletic. Like Rambis, though, he brings the intangibles. He is part of the Harvey-Rambis crunch, with maybe only one of those three making the cut.