Can the Lakers benefit from the 2009 draft?

As the Los Angeles Lakers and their fans celebrate the 2008-09 NBA Championship, many other teams in the league are focused on something else: the NBA Draft June 25.
With Blake Griffin of Oklahoma, Ricky Rubio from Spain and many others headlining the upcoming draft, Laker fans are left to ponder, if they really do care, which player falls into the team and is sent off to the summer league team and possibly the D-fenders of the NBA's Development League.
But the Lakers seem to have a special knack from developing players quickly that show promise early. Andrew Bynum, despite his injuries, has been one of the biggest recent pieces in the Laker puzzle.
Analyzing the draft can be difficult, as not one player is assured to go to a specific team, especially Griffin, who has been speculated to be a No. 1 pick across the board. Griffin may be ready to go to the Los Angeles Clippers, this years first team on the clock.
The Lakers management needs to decide which area they need to address first.
Having Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol wrapped up for another two years and Derek Fisher and Andrew Bynum under contract until the end of next season, many are wondering if owner Dr. Jerry Buss and General Manager Mitch Kupchak attempt to re-sign Trevor Ariza and Lamar Odom.
But what if these two have a different mindset on how to build for next season, which would go against all hope that Ariza and Odom are offered worthy contracts after perfomances in the playoffs en route to their first NBA title.
With the economy being in disarray, many teams have tried to go away from offering luxurious short-term contracts, instead signing players for longer amounts of time. Luke Walton is signed through 2012, making more than $20 million, but he has shown signs of living up to this contract, especially in key situations in the finals.
One area the Lakers could strengthen would be at the center position. Finding a stable backup to Bynum and keeping Gasol at the power forward spot on a more frequent basis.
The web site DraftExpress.com had the Lakers taking Jonas Jerebko, a 6 foot 9, 22-year-old Swedish native in the first round and Slava Kravstov, a 7 foot, 21-year-old Ukranian, both of whom look like possible picks. Another web site, nbadraft.net, had the Lakers taking two players from Louisiana State, guard Marcus Thorton and forward Chris Johnson. These players might be speculated as possible picks due to their playing experience with former teammate and current Boston Celtic Glenn Davis.
The possibilities on draft day are endless. The Lakers could do what they did 13 years ago, trading an older player to a team looking for veteran experience and getting a steal like Bryant. Players such as Jordan Farmar, Adam Morrison, Sasha Vujacic and possibly Walton all can be used as trade bait in an attempt to gain a higher draft pick.
The names on the draft board have proven they can compete at the college level, but many have seen players never pan out that had such high expectations.
Morrison was just one of these players. So highly touted coming out of Gonzaga after leading his Bulldogs to the NCAA Final Four, he was a bust come draft day. Drafted by the Charlotte Bobcats, he never truly found his place before getting shipped to the Lakers and watching the finals from the bench in a suit.
Despite the speculation of whom the Lakers might or might not draft, it can be assured that Laker fans are not too concerned with the draft. They want to see how the 2008-09 NBA title is defended and whether or not a rematch with the Celtics is something to look forward to.