Green Returns to Lakers : Pro basketball: A void is filled as former power forward is reacquired in deal that sends Rooks and draft pick to the Mavericks.

Six years after he left, A.C. Green, the last active member of the Lakers’ “Showtime” glory days, on Wednesday also became a big part of the team’s present, re-jiggered frontline.

Green, a little frazzled by the swift negotiations and deal-making after the Lakers acquired him in a sign-and-trade deal with the Dallas Mavericks, still immediately understood the significance of his return.

“I’m the last one,” Green said, referring to the Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar era. “I’m definitely the last one around.”

In the deal, Green agreed to a three-year contract with Dallas (only the first year, and $1.7 million, is guaranteed) with the condition that he would be traded to the Lakers for little-used backup center Sean Rooks and a No. 2 pick in 2000.

Green, who turns 36 on Oct. 4, will apparently compete for the starting power forward spot with Robert Horry. Travis Knight will be the main backup at center for Shaquille O’Neal.

The addition almost certainly means that the team will not sign Dennis Rodman.

Last season, Green played in all 50 games for Dallas, averaging 4.9 points and 4.6 rebounds in 18.4 minutes per game--the lowest statistics of his 14-year career, the first eight of which were spent with the Lakers.

Green’s return to L.A., where he won two NBA championships, just felt right, he said.

“It’s my roots, my destiny,” Green said.

As the “Showtime” nucleus aged, Green left the Lakers after the 1992-93 season for a free-agent deal with the Phoenix Suns. He was traded to Dallas in December 1996.

Though Green could have signed with the Lakers directly as a free agent, the sign-and-trade scenario allowed Dallas to acquire Rooks, who played there in his first two NBA seasons and is signed for four more seasons, and allowed the Lakers to pay Green more than the $1.1-million salary-cap exception.

“It’s probably the most comforting, relaxed setting I could find,” Green said. “I think the services I can provide, they do need. . . .

“Winning is part of my blood, it’s part of my history. . . . That is something that transfers from me.”

Green, a deeply religious man who said his ministers were praying for a return to the Lakers, said he already exchanged welcome-back hugs with several team staffers.

“This was something special--I can’t even downplay it,” Green said. “This organization is a staple of my life.”

Laker Executive Vice President Jerry West, in a written statement, said that Green will provide exactly what he did for the Lakers in the past--hard work, leadership and rebounding.

“He’s a solid rebounder and defender and does a lot of little things that don’t show up in the box score but help you win games,” West said.

Said Don Nelson, Dallas’ coach and general manager: “He was going to sign there, anyway. So we were able to help him get a little more money. We’re happy, he’s happy, the Lakers are happy--it’s one of those deals where everybody’s happy.”

Green said he doesn’t worry about a drastic adjustment to playing alongside O’Neal and Kobe Bryant because he knows new Coach Phil Jackson will be changing everything, anyway.

Green played in the “triangle” offense under current Laker assistant Jim Cleamons when Cleamons coached Dallas a few years ago.

Does Green, whose current streak of 1,028 consecutive games played is an NBA record, think he is still capable of putting in 35 minutes a game banging against Chris Webber, Tim Duncan and the rest?

“You said five minutes a game?” Green said with a laugh. “Oh, 35? Honestly, I’m capable of playing that without a question. But, that’s not a preference. Nor would I expect to.

“I expect to be a tag team with whatever tandem the coach chooses. . . . I just want to try and compete--and that’s been an Achilles’ heal of the team, competing, and mainly in that rebounding area.

“There’s been a lot of spectating in the past, people watching shots. Hopefully, you won’t be able to say that any more.”

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Laker Notes

The Lakers have re-signed special consultant Walt Hazzard to a two-year contract.