Jermaine O'Neal flew under the radar for four seasons at Portland before awakening in his fifth season after a trade to Indiana that ultimately spurred him to become a top post player.

Lakers' big man Andrew Bynum, in his third season, doesn't necessarily like the association with O'Neal. He'd rather be a presence sooner, like now.

"This year's the year," he said. "I kind of think we go as far as our young guys take us, me and Javaris [Crittenton] being the young guys, going out there and getting some things done on our second unit. I'm still trying to go out there and be a starter, but as of right now, I think Phil [Jackson] is favoring Chris Mihm -- veteran status and all that."

He certainly has a believer in team owner Jerry Buss.

"There are times where he certainly seems like he could just dominate, and there's other times I realize he's only 19," Buss said in an interview this week. "I'm not that much of a prophet. I like to think he's going to be sensational. He certainly seems to have all the physical abilities.