Rodman Ripping His New Teammates Already

You know it’s a circus when Dennis Rodman shows up for his first practice as a Laker and his arrival is one of the calm events of the day.

Who says he’ll be a distraction?

“Since the coach is vacant, I might be coach,” Rodman said Wednesday, after going through his first workout with about six other Lakers in a voluntary practice at the Great Western Forum. “Wouldn’t that be something?”

Rodman, who signed a two-year contract late Tuesday, said he will make his Laker debut Friday at the Forum against the Clippers, and that he is probably in good enough shape to play “20-30 minutes” right away and probably will be in full game shape in a couple of weeks.

But his most pointed words were directed at his new, coachless teammates.

“What’s new? The same thing,” Rodman said, when asked if he watched the Lakers lose to Vancouver on Tuesday. “I mean . . . you have to know the game of basketball, and these guys right now don’t know the game of basketball.

“I’ve always said I worked my [butt] off for 12 years to get myself to a point, and these kids here have worked their butts for maybe two or three years in the NBA and making so much money and you can’t . . . complain and say, ‘Well, he did this, he did that,’ when you’re making $12 million to $15 million a year and you’re not producing.”

Rodman said he had no doubt that he, at least, will produce, as he has been to win the last seven rebounding titles and five of the last 10 NBA championships.

“I do produce. I’ve been producing for 12 years and hopefully these guys can see that and not be too immature to know it’s not all about fun and games,” Rodman said. “I’m always coming through in the clutch; I’m always going to be here [during the finals] in June.”

Del Harris’ firing, while regrettable, is something the Laker players will have to move beyond, Rodman said.

“I really feel sorry for Del Harris, under the circumstances he was under,” Rodman said. “But life moves on if you’re here or if you’re not. I’ve had a lot of distractions in my life the last 12 years so it won’t faze me at all.”

Rodman said he and Shaquille O’Neal, with whom he has exchange several testy words, greeted each other on the floor Wednesday.

“There’s no hard feelings,” Rodman said. “I’ve always respected Shaq.”

Also on the floor, Rodman met and also said goodbye to Harris.

“I heard [about the firing] as I was on the floor,” Rodman said. “He came down and said, ‘Sorry, I couldn’t be here, good luck to you.’ ”

*

Forward Robert Horry, who was sidelined the last seven games after doctors discovered a heartbeat irregularity, said he feels good and is all set to play tonight against the Clippers at the Arrowhead Pond.

Horry was cleared by doctors when his heart monitor revealed that the extra heartbeats he had been having had disappeared, even after undergoing a hard workout on Tuesday.

“I’m fine,” Horry said Wednesday. “Everything is cool with me.”

Horry, who had been the Lakers’ starting power forward before his health problems and the arrival of Rodman, said he has no problem giving up the starting spot.

“I think it’s just going to be me and Travis [Knight] and Corie [Blount] in practice going hard trying to see who’s going to get the loose minutes, you know?” Horry said. “It’ll be fine.”

Could Horry see himself getting time backing up Kobe Bryant at small forward, along with former starter Rick Fox?

“Rick isn’t getting any minutes,” Horry said, “What makes you think I can get any there?”