Don't let the success of the Clippers fool you ... Andrew Bynum knows Los Angeles is still a Lakers town ... that's why he wants to play for them next season.

Bynum -- who is currently a free agent after a disastrous season in Cleveland and Indiana -- was at LAX on Tuesday when our photog broached the idea of returning to Los Angeles.

You might think Bynum would want to take what's left of his talents to Lob City ... but he says he'd prefer to wear purple and gold.

Bynum's best seasons were in Los Angeles ... in fact, he's barely played in the two seasons since he was traded for Dwight Howard.