SEATTLE – Superagent David Falk told The Post yesterday he was disturbed by the manner in which his client, Glen Rice, was treated by the Lakers during his 1 1/2-year stint out West.

Falk, who sat on the dais with Patrick Ewing during Monday’s news conference in Seattle, ripped the Lakers, saying,

“I’ve never had a client treated worse in my life than the way the Lakers treated Glen Rice.”

Rice, the 33-year-old, three-time All Star small forward, was part of the 12-player Ewing blockbuster last Wednesday. Falk’s remarks echoed claims made last week by Rice’s wife, Christina Fernandez, that her husband was mistreated beyond playing-time issues.

Sources close to Lakers coach Phil Jackson said if it weren’t for Fernandez, the 3-point shooting machine would still be a member of the championship team.

Fernandez also mouthed off during the NBA Finals about Jackson’s misuse of Rice. Fernandez, who attended Rice’s press conference at the Garden last Wednesday, criticized Jackson during the Finals series.

“That was the last straw,” a source close to Jackson said.

Lakers spokesman John Black dismissed Falk’s claim of shabby treatment.

“We’re not going to respond to that,” Black said. “We don’t want to get into a back-and-forth. I’m sorry Dave feels the need to criticize us.”

Fernandez, who sat next to Falk during Wednesday’s Rice press conference, has yet to issue coach Jeff Van Gundy any warnings. She said she had “no regrets” about her remarks but, like Falk, indicated Rice’s divorce from L.A. was more complex than his role in the offense.

“I’m very excited and happy for Glen,” Fernandez told The Post. “He just wants to be winning and having fun while he’s doing it. I love the city of L.A., but it was time to move on. It was not about playing time. There were different issues. He had no problems with minutes. If he had to take a diminished role, OK, as long as he’s happy and winning.”

Said Rice, “I’m trying to put all that behind me.”

Obviously, one reason the Rice camp feels so bitter is because it feels the Lakers broke promises in regards to giving Rice financial security a year ago. When Rice was traded from Charlotte during the lockout season of 1999, it is believed Lakers brass told Rice that it would give him a maximum seven-year contract extension that summer – something the Hornets would not do.

Instead, the Lakers refused to give him an extension and picked up a club option for $7 million for the final year of Rice’s contract. Rice became a free agent this summer and, as part of the sign-and-trade in the Ewing deal, settled for a four-year, $36 million pact.

Technically speaking, Rice was miscast in the Lakers’ triangle offense that does not rely on screens to open up shooters. Executives around the league believe Rice will fit in famously with what the Knicks try to do.

Rice averaged 31.6 minutes and 15.9 points last season but shot just 43 percent. His play dipped in the playoffs when he shot just 40.8 percent from the field and averaged 12.4 points.

“He’s still a fantastic shooter,” one Eastern Conference talent evaluator said. “The way the Knicks are so precise in setting screens, they’re going to get him open a lot.

“Glen uses screens great and all he needs is a little bit of space. It’s too early to say if he’s on the decline. Make that judgment after this season.”