ANOTHER BARRY COMES TO L.A.

Byline: Howard Beck Daily News Staff Writer

Los Angeles imported another Barry on Wednesday, as the Lakers signed free-agent Jon Barry, a shooting guard, to a one-year contract.

Barry, 28, is a five-year veteran and the son of NBA Hall of Famer Rick Barry. Little brother Brent Barry is a third-year guard for the Clippers.

Jon Barry is the second free agent to join the Lakers in as many days. Small forward Rick Fox announced his intent Tuesday to play for L.A. and will sign a contract today.

If Barry, who signed for the NBA minimum salary of $272,500, can provide the perimeter game the Lakers are seeking, he could knock draftee DeJuan Wheat out of the picture this fall.

After one year with the Atlanta Hawks, Barry said he was eager to return to the Western Conference, which better suits his game. That opportunity arose last week when the Lakers called.

``This came up (and) I had to jump on it. It's the most attractive organization in the game,'' Barry said.

The 6-foot-5 Barry played in 58 games for the Hawks last year, starting eight. He averaged 4.9 points and 2.0 assists in 16.6 minutes per game. Of greater interest to the Lakers, he set a career high in 3-pointers made with 48.

Barry joins a crowded field of guards, with Eddie Jones and Kobe Bryant at off-guard and Nick Van Exel and Derek Fisher at the point. He's more comfortable at the off position but will play either spot and figures to see more playing time here.

``We've got tremendous guards, but Del (Harris) plays a lot of his bench,'' Barry said. ``I just want to be ready. I think the thing I'm going to concentrate on is just being a good perimeter shooter and a decent defender.

``I always play hard. If the team's down one night, throw me in there, I think I can change the tempo of a game.''

And Barry thinks his odds of winning a ring here are slightly better than in Atlanta.

``They'll go far in the playoffs too, but the possibilities of this team winning it all are great,'' Barry said.

He was the sixth man for much of last season but Barry had a rough time during his handful of starts. ``I kind of put too much pressure on myself,'' he said. ``I was a little tentative, a little nervous, I guess, and I didn't make the most of the opportunity. . . . Now I'm ready to apply what I've learned.''

Moving to Los Angeles also means getting a chance to see brother Brent more often, including on the court.

``It's going to be great,'' he said. ``He's going to be checking us out as we advance in the playoffs. He can come on over and I'll give him a ticket to the game.''

Barry was originally drafted by Boston with the 21st overall pick in 1992. His five-year career averages are 4.7 points and 1.8 assists in 297 games, including three years with Milwaukee and one year each with Golden State and Atlanta.

His most productive season was with Milwaukee in 1993-94, posting career bests in scoring (6.2), assists (2.3), rebounds (2.0) and steals (1.42).