LAKERS NOTEBOOK: GREEN FIGHTING FOR SPOT.

Byline: ROSS SILER Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO -- Every time he looks at his right wrist, Lakers forward Devin Green can read the words, ``The NBA: It's a privilege, not a right,'' another reminder that he has to fight again this October for a spot on the 15-man roster.

Green picked up the black wristband at the NBA's rookie transition program last month and said he liked the message. He knows that nothing is guaranteed, even after making the team out of training camp last season.

``I went through it last year, so I'm kind of used to it,'' Green said. ``I kind of know what to look for. I think the hardest thing for me is trying to control my anxiety. You go out there and you're hyped and you want to prove a point to everybody.''

After going undrafted out of Hampton, Green won the last spot on the Lakers' roster and played in 27 games as a rookie. He saw only limited action but was active for 69 of 82 regular-season games.

Once again, Green is in training camp without a guaranteed contract.

The final roster spot appears to be a three-way battle between veteran guard Aaron McKie, second-round draft pick J.R. Pinnock and Green.

The Lakers already have invested a season in developing Green, who struggled in the fourth quarter of Tuesday's exhibition loss to Sacramento.

Green made just one of six shots and was beaten by John Salmons on a three-point play with 2:38 left that put the Kings in front for good.

He also was tied up for a jump ball that Salmons won and missed two open jumpers down the stretch.

Although Green has had limited game experience, the Lakers have stressed that he has to shoot better than last season -- when he made six of 28 shots -- and make his mark as a defender.

``He's quick enough and athletic enough to be able to shut people down,'' Lakers assistant coach Kurt Rambis said. ``That's what we need him to show us, that he can take on a defender one-on-one and we can count on him to control that guy by himself.''

The Lakers have to set their roster by 3 p.m. Oct. 30.

Game time: The number of exhibition games left for Kobe Bryant in which he can test his right knee is down to two. Bryant won't play tonight against the Clippers or in Friday's game in the annual Staples Center shootout.

That leaves Bryant with only two remaining possibilities -- Sunday in San Diego or Oct. 26 in Anaheim. He was asked Wednesday if he needed to play in at least one game before opening night on Oct. 31.

``I would love to have one. Definitely,'' Bryant said. ``Just to kind of get the kinks out a little bit, get the game under your belt, that sort of thing. That would help tremendously.''

McKie update: After suffering a back injury in the second minute Tuesday, McKie was found to be suffering from disc irritation and inflammation. The Lakers will wait to see how he progresses; McKie won't play for at least a couple of days.

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