Wrestle with this thought: L.A. will be even better with Andrew the Giant

In fairness to Gasol, Bynum's return next season means he won't have to bang with Tim Duncan. He can pick on Fabricio Oberto and Kurt Thomas. Gasol may be a weenie, but Oberto and Thomas -- like the second-best big men on most teams in the NBA -- are just filler. Gasol will dominate those matchups. And Bynum should dominate at the center position most nights, too. It goes without saying that Bryant will manhandle whoever he faces in the backcourt. As for the frustrating Lamar Odom, he's not a star and he's not even all that reliable. But if he's a team's fourth-best player ... wow.

So I asked Abdul-Jabbar, before he could leave, how good this team will be next season.

"Very good," he said.

That's all? Very good? The Lakers just won the West.

"Very, very good," he said, laughing. "Andrew coming back will allow Pau to play where he's been best, 10 to 15 feet from the basket. He hasn't had the chance to do that for us. Andrew can play in the paint. That'll be his bailiwick. He'll rebound, block shots and play defense."

Indeed, defense. Without Bynum, the Lakers' biggest weakness is post defense. Gasol had no chance against Duncan, who averaged 22.4 points and 17.2 rebounds in the Western Conference finals and finished with a Game 5 triple-double.

Bynum faced Duncan just once this season, but get this -- that was Duncan's worst game of the season. He had five points and five rebounds in 31 minutes, going 2-for-13 from the floor and turning the ball over four times. Bynum, meanwhile, had 11 points and 12 rebounds, no turnovers, and was 4-for-5 from the floor.

Andrew Bynum whipped Tim Duncan's ass.

Imagine that happening next season, on a nightly basis. Imagine these Lakers then.

Bryant has. He commiserates with Bynum's frustration now, but he knows what will happen soon.

"I imagine it's very difficult for him," Bryant said. "But then a big smile comes across my face and I tell him, 'Imagine what it's going to be like when you're back in the lineup.'"

Definitely championship-bound.