LAKERS NOTEBOOK: FISHER KEY TO FUTURE : LAKERS LOOK TO EXTENDING HIS CONTRACT.

Byline: Howard Beck Daily News Staff Writer

The Lakers are working to lock up another player, but his hair isn't red, he's not covered in tattoos and frankly, no one's ever accused Derek Fisher of being ``a thug.''

To the contrary, the Lakers' starting point guard is one of the most polite, most normal players in the NBA, and a much-improved player at that. His solid work as the starter for the last half of last season enabled the Lakers to jettison tempestuous Nick Van Exel and place their championship hopes in Fisher's hands.

Now the free-agent-to-be is hoping for a contract extension, for the maximum six years. The Lakers - who incidentally have no interest in Dennis Rodman, despite Shaquille O'Neal's recent plea to acquire ``a thuggish forward'' - have opened contract discussions with Fisher's agent.

``They've expressed some interest in going ahead and trying to wrap it up,'' Fisher said. ``Basically, it's just a matter of reaching terms that are reasonable and fair to both parties.''

When the issue was Kobe Bryant, that was an easy call, and the Lakers quickly gave their budding star a contract for the maximum, $70.9 million. Like Bryant, Fisher is in the final season of his three-year rookie contract. Unlike Bryant, an All-Star at age 19, Fisher has not established his market value, so a deal might take more time.

Teams have until March 13 to sign players to extensions and the Lakers prefer to evaluate Fisher for the next six weeks, if not the entire season, before making a decision.

``I think our feeling is he is going to continue to improve,'' general manager Mitch Kupchak said. ``We'd rather he get a chance to play and establish the type of player he is. If we could see him play out the year with the team, where he's the guy, it may be easier for everyone. He deserves the chance to prove he's the point guard for this team.''

The 24-year-old from Arkansas-Little Rock was the Lakers' first-round draft pick, No. 24 overall, in 1996, but didn't make an impression until last February, when a knee injury knocked Van Exel out of action.

Fisher responded in impressive fashion, so much so that when Van Exel returned, he elected to be the backup. The Lakers compiled a 29-7 record (.806) with Fisher at the helm, including a 22-3 finish to the regular season, and he averaged 8.4 points and 5.7 assists as a starter.

Now Fisher begins his first season as the No. 1 point guard, with a nice reward awaiting if he continues to improve at the same rate. No one expects Fisher to become the scoring threat Van Exel (14.9 points/game career average) was, but if he dishes out assists and defense, that should be enough on a team with plenty of scorers.

And though he'd like the security of a multimillion-dollar long-term contract, Fisher understands if the Lakers decide to wait for a month, or five.

``They're at a point with me right now where I still have some things to prove,'' he said. ``They may want to wait the whole year, and that's fine.

``But I think they understand how the (free-agency) process works, and the longer you wait, the costlier it gets. You have to deal with how other people view me and value me. But they'll handle it the best way they know how, and I think the fairest way.''

Familiar five: When the Lakers open the season Friday against Houston, coach Del Harris will probably use the same starting five that finished last season. And he's shelved for now the concept of rotating Eddie Jones, Rick Fox and Kobe Bryant as starters at shooting guard and small forward.

``There's gotta be good reason to change your lineup. Right now we don't have that,'' Harris said. ``But it's always open to adjustment.''

So expect a lineup of Fisher, Jones, Fox, O'Neal and Robert Horry on Friday.

As for using the three-man rotation, ``probably not,'' Harris said, but noted, ``As the season goes on, you've always got to keep various options open.''

Harris floated the rotation idea last week, but none of the three players seemed to embrace it and Jones seemed particularly bothered by it. Harris didn't consult the players directly.

Last hurrah? Harris, in the final year of his contract, said he's not concerned over his job status but let on that he did have other opportunities elsewhere.

``I'm not saying which teams, but I was contacted by two different teams,'' Harris said. ``I said, `No, I don't want to go.' ''

He declined to elaborate on the type of positions offered, saying only, ``I definitely could have gone to two different teams, for a lot more time and a lot more money, but I wanted to coach this team.''

For a simple reason: ``I think we can win the championship.''

Ouch report: Sean Rooks did not attend Monday's practice and is suffering from the flu, according to a team spokesman. Corie Blount is suffering from tendinitis in his left knee and watched practice from the sidelines.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

PHOTO (1) Shaquille O'Neal (pictured) will lead Derek Fisher, Eddie Jones, Rick Fox and Robert Horry as the starters in Friday's season opener.

Jill Connelly/Associated Press

(2) FISHER