LAKERS NOTEBOOK: STAYING IN GYM ALL DAY SUITS FOX.

Byline: Howard Beck Daily News Staff Writer

Rick Fox needed a haircut, but being new to Los Angeles, he didn't know where to go. So Fox, the newest Laker, busted out the clippers and did it himself.

The result is the Marines-style buzzcut he was sporting at Wednesday's practice at L.A. Southwest College. He missed a few spots and took some ribbing from teammates. For Fox, every day seems to bring another adjustment to his new environs.

For instance, the folks at Southwest College had to boot him from the gym because Fox was still shooting 3-pointers and free throws a full 30 minutes after practice ended. Everyone else in purple and gold was long gone.

``The last city I was in, I'd spend most of the day at the gym. This is kind of new to me, being kicked out,'' said Fox, who usually shoots for another hour and a half after practice. ``The season for me is a full-day event, whether it's preparation on game day or on off-days.''

Between the week of training camp in Palm Desert and exhibition games in San Diego and Phoenix, Fox has had little time to set up his new apartment in Westwood. Or find a good barber.

``That's thrown me off. I'm used to being settled at this time of season,'' Fox said. ``I've been in the city only three days now. . . . I haven't seen much of it.''

The six-year veteran is beginning to find his way on the court, though the stats don't yet show it. He's tallied 17 points, four assists and five rebounds over 48 minutes in the first two exhibition games.

``I need a little more experience in game situations with these guys, see how they react in certain situations,'' he said. ``The first two games, I was just getting used to the uniforms.''

The Lakers are Fox's first new team since he was first drafted by the Celtics out of North Carolina in 1991.

``There's times when I haven't felt as comfortable as I have in the past,'' he admitted. ``But that will come.''

He's already noticed an improvement in his work environment.

``We seem to handle criticism amongst ourselves a lot better than. . . the team I was on, and that's good,'' he said. ``You have to be able to communicate with each other in a positive and negative light and respond to it in a correct manner.''

Wheat watch: DeJuan Wheat, possibly the longest shot to make the Lakers' roster, is also the only Laker who has yet to make a shot.

Wheat, a 1997 second-round draft pick, has played just 12 minutes in two games and has one rebound, three assists. . . and no points. He's 0 for 2 from the field and hasn't been to the free-throw line.

He'll try to get on the scoreboard Friday against the Clippers in St. Louis and Saturday against the Cavaliers in Kansas City.

``I think once I get in a groove, I'll settle down and the points will come easy,'' he said. ``I gotta keep my head up. I know this is a deep team, and I know they brought me in here for a reason, so when I'm getting my opportunity, I've got to show what I can do.''

Barring injuries to anyone on the roster, Wheat is battling for the 12th and final roster spot with guard Shea Seals and forwards Mario Bennett and James Forrest.

Coach Del Harris said he won't make any cuts until the mandatory NBA deadline for setting the roster, Oct. 30 at 3 p.m.