What?

"We're a championship-caliber team when he's in the lineup."

- Kobe Bryant on Andrew Bynum

Ok. Here it comes.

I had been cautious to not make such a bold statement myself this year. Even though I said as much about last year's team. Even though I know this team is head and shoulders better.

But Kobe's admission last night to John Ireland after the OT squeaker against one of the leagues worst teams, is huge. It tells us that he is one step closer to rescinding that trade demand. That Andrew Bynum is now a Laker4Life. And that after two and a half months of conservative assessment of the team's potential, Kobe is convinced.

And why the hell wouldn't he be?

The future looks bright ladies and gentlemen. As bright as the days when we used to imagine an aging Shaq rebounding, defending, and deferring to a peaking Kobe on their way to more and more Laker titles. Only brighter. Because for all the inherent problems that would have plagued those theoretical ShaKobe Lakers, these Lakers have solutions.

Shaq hating on Kobe? Bynum doesn't seem to mind him.
Kobe hating on Shaq? After all he's been through, he just wants to win.
Too old? The average age of the Lakers is 25.9, 8th in the league.
No third scorer? Lamar Odom.
Not athletic enough? Trevor Ariza.
Not quick enough at the one? Jordan Farmar.
Not enough urgency in the regular season? Ronny Turiaf.
No three point shooters? Radmanovich and Sasha.
No young talent? Javaris Crittenton.
No depth? See all of the above.

Amazing, isn't it?