The day after Shaquille O'Neal left for sunny Florida via trade, Kobe Bryant came true on his past comments of being a "Laker for life" ... for now.

Bryant has informed the Lakers that he will be signing a contract with the team, staying with the team which he helped win three championships rather than join the cross town Clippers, a team which appears to have been in rebuilding mode for an eternity.

"Kobe has informed us he's going to stay with the Lakers and sign a new contract," Lakers spokesman John Black said Thursday afternoon. Bryant planned to speak at a news conference at 9 p.m. ET.

The Clippers earlier this week traded Melvin Ely and Eddie House to the Charlotte Bobcats to create additional space to accomodate the salary a player like Bryant commands.  Now left dry the team may now match the offer sheet that Quentin Richardson has signed with the Phoenix Suns, something that Richardson is hoping they do not do.

Bryant will be the key figure in a vastly different Laker team that lost to the Pistons in five games last season, joining newcomers Lamar Odom, Brian Grant, Caron Butler as well as a new coach in Rudy Tomjanovich.

"With Kobe, we're one of the premier teams," Lakers owner Jerry Buss said earlier this week.

This may be true, but will they ever be as strong as they were with Shaq by his side?