Jackson Must Go Forward : Lakers: Pippen-Rice deal on back burner and Rodman apparently isn’t the answer for new coach.

Too many big names, big bodies and big plans slipped away during the summer for Phil Jackson to ignore the big issue now.

First Charles Oakley, then Lorenzen Wright bypassed the free-agent chance to fill the Lakers’ power-forward void.

Most recently, an oft-proposed trade for Scottie Pippen, Jackson’s former Chicago Bull stalwart, apparently was revisited at Jackson’s urging, then squelched again.

On Wednesday, in Jackson’s first extended public comments since July, when the new Laker coach made it clear he hoped and expected major improvements, specifically at power forward, Jackson needed no prompting on the point.

“We’re not totally satisfied with our roster,” said Jackson, who returned to L.A. from his Montana home last week, and is living out of a hotel room until his house purchase is finalized.

“Though we tried to improve the ballclub over the summer, a lot of things didn’t go the way we’d hoped they would go, particularly in the power forward situation. And we were fortunate to kind of scramble at the end and pick up A.C. [Green in a trade] as a legitimate performer.

“But we still have some needs as far [as] the power players. And we recognize this and we’ll be searching it out. But we think we’ve got the talent to win games and proceed as we go, and make adjustments as the season goes along.”

As it stands, the Lakers’ next possible move is the signing of former Bull guard Ron Harper. General Manager Mitch Kupchak on Wednesday acknowledged the team’s interest in Harper, but said that no deal was in place.

That still leaves the team with only four players--Shaquille O’Neal, Travis Knight, Green and Robert Horry--at center and power forward, with only O’Neal a true power player.

Jackson also strongly indicated that Dennis Rodman, because of his advancing age and declining reliability, is not currently an option.

On his championship Bull teams, Jackson said, he usually had three usable centers, plus three or four other proven power forwards.

The Lakers currently have O’Neal--whom Jackson has asked to come to camp trimmer--one veteran but smallish power forward in Green, and two tall but wiry players in Horry and Knight.

So, with zero viable alternatives left on the big man free-agent market, Jackson said there’s nothing left to do but acknowledge the weakness, go to training camp and see what happens.

Both Jackson and Kupchak suggested that, with training camps due to start up in early October (the Lakers open Oct. 5 at UC Santa Barbara), there won’t be any decent big men available on the waiver wire or for trade until November at the earliest.

“I’ll keep searching until I find somebody that does it,” Jackson said. “I mean, that’s a job someone [has to do]. And if we can’t find it on the team, then we’ll find it on somebody else that will come to the team to fill that position.

“We’ve got to have people close the lane off so that we can prevent the penetration this team has suffered under the past couple of years.”

Kupchak said that the activity will begin when teams start making cuts during the exhibition season, and then after Dec. 15, when teams can trade players who were signed during the off-season.

Jackson’s other wish is for a player to facilitate the Lakers’ adjustment to the triangle offense--he sent each Laker a five-page memo outlining the broader goals of the triangle.

And he considers Pippen, unhappy in Houston after winning six championships under Jackson in Chicago, as the perfect on-court facilitator.

But discussions to acquire Pippen are on the back burner, Jackson said.

Jackson said he hopes to speak soon with small forward Glen Rice, who has been offered to Houston in the Pippen discussions.

“Whatever speculation is going on, there’s no reason for him to be either upset or duly worried about it,” Jackson said of Rice. “You just can’t be in this business.

“And I don’t think he has any qualms about the fact, if he was part of a deal for Scottie Pippen, you know, a great player. . . . It’s not one or the other. It’s just simply a matter of efficiency and knowledge over something else. The fact that [Pippen] is one of the top 50 players of all time, he’s been on six championship teams, it pretty much states itself right there. . . .

“I think Glen’s coming into a situation which is his last year on a contract. And he’s got every opportunity to make a great statement for himself, and he’s got the perfect opportunity on a team where he’s going to be in an offense that’s going to show that, one, he’s not just a shooter, not just a scorer, but he can be a complete basketball player, which is what Glen has not shown over the course of his career.

“And that he can be on a winner, which is another thing that he’s not been a part of.”

Jackson, meanwhile, did leave the door a tiny bit open for thoughts of bringing in Rodman at a later date, if Rodman straightens out his life and the Lakers still need a big man.

But Jackson said in his clearest terms yet that Rodman’s erratic persona--further evidenced by a public drunkenness arrest and his disparaging comments about the Lakers this summer--probably would do more harm to the Lakers’ development than his rebounding and defensive presence would help.

“Dennis is obviously not the kind of player that can facilitate an offense,” Jackson said. “He can debilitate an offense and a whole team with his presence.

“One of the things that’s made me stay away from Dennis has been the variety of inconsistencies in his life. Obviously, we have a need for a player like him. But I’m not willing at this time to sacrifice what I see as maybe some stability with this team, maybe to get comfortable with themselves and find a pecking order of how they’re going to role-play or play inside the structure which I have in mind.

“And bringing Dennis into this team is probably not conducive to helping that along.”

Laker Notes

The Lakers, who have worn the same basic uniform for the last 30 years, will unveil a new Nike-designed uniform at a news conference on Oct. 1. The team will still wear gold at home and purple on the road, a team spokesman said, but the design will be very different.

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How Laker Roster Sizes Up

Lakers’ current roster and how the players fit in:

* Kobe Bryant, guard: It will be fascinating to see how his exceptional talent and competitive drive fit into the triangle offense, which encourages quick passing and decision-making and shuns a one-on-one mentality.

* John Celestand, guard: Guard is most difficult position in the triangle, Phil Jackson doesn’t usually trust rookies, and the second-round pick doesn’t have a guaranteed contract.

* Derek Fisher, guard: With his unquestionable work ethic, if he can consistently make the 20-footer and pick up the triangle swiftly, Fisher could have a breakthrough season after signing a long-term deal.

* Rick Fox, forward: Another Laker with new long-term money, he should be a key part of the second unit and defensively could be asked to guard anybody from Tim Duncan to Jason Kidd.

* Devean George, forward-guard: The first-round pick shows promise but is unsigned. Coming from Division III, he is not an ideal Jackson triangle player. He might be better off on another team, especially if the Lakers sign Ron Harper.

* A.C. Green, forward: If he’s half the player he was in his first stint with the Lakers, he will be a big help. Hard to imagine Green going 25-30 minutes against Duncan, Malone, Garnett, McDyess, Webber. . . .

* Robert Horry, forward: He and Green form a less-than-scary power forward tandem in a conference filled with monster power forwards. Foul trouble with either player could be lethal for the Lakers.

* Sam Jacobson, guard: He barely played as a rookie. Depending on how he picks up the triangle and the consistency of his jump shot, he might find some time this season.

* Travis Knight, center-forward: A crucial puzzle piece as the roster is currently set. If Shaquille O’Neal gets in foul trouble or is hurt, Knight will play huge minutes. If Knight remains foul prone, who’s the Lakers’ third center?

* Melvin Levett, guard: Acquired in the Derek Harper trade. Physical, tough attitude; unlikely to make the team or perhaps even be invited to camp.

* Tyronn Lue, guard: An explosive player, and crowd favorite, he has to battle Jackson’s preference for big guards. Derek Harper trade could free up more time.

* Shaquille O’Neal, center: He’s the main reason Jackson wanted to coach the Lakers. Jackson has already given him one clear mandate--get into better shape before training camp. “He’s having trouble getting himself up and down the court,” Jackson said.

* Glen Rice, forward: Not exactly the Pippen-like passer to make the triangle go, but Rice’s deluxe shooting skills could be big part of new offense in a contract year. He still might be traded for Pippen or perhaps a power forward.