When David Stern takes the podium to announce the first pick in the NBA draft tonight at Madison Square Garden (7 p.m., ESPN), the future of two franchises will hang in the balance.

In one the most anticipated draft in several years, the biggest question heading in is this: Oden or Durant? On the one hand, there’s Ohio State 7-footer Greg Oden — a dominating defender with a solid low-post game who led the Buckeyes to the national title game despite playing with an injured wrist the whole season. On the other, there’s Durant — a spectacular scorer who put up video-game type numbers as a freshman for Texas. Making that call is the Portland Trail Blazers, with the Seattle (for now) Supersonics waiting to scoop up whomever the Blazers reject.

And that’s only half the fun. Trade rumors are swimming around faster than Ian Thorpe, with the hottest one being a deal that would send Kevin Garnett to Phoenix, either in a direct deal with Minnesota or a multi-team arrangement involving either Boston, Atlanta, or Indiana. Other superstars — such as Indiana’s Jermiaine O’Neal and Phoenix’s Shawn Marion — also are rumored to be in play.

But before the Blazers make their call and the Timberwolves make their deal, I have to make my predictions. Here’s a peek into my crystal ball at how the first round will play out tonight:

1. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

GREG ODEN
C, OHIO STATE

This pick is a simple matter of selfpreservation for Blazers GM Kevin Prichard — everyone thinks Oden is the right choice, so if he takes Durant and Oden becomes the next Tim Duncan, then Prtichard will be working the take-out window at Stuckey’s.

2. SEATTLE SUPERSONICS

KEVIN DURANT
F, TEXAS

I may be alone on this one, but I think Durant is the better player. His college numbers are so spectacular that there is literally no ceiling on what he might do in the NBA. Though if Oden falls to them they won’t cry — the Sonics have needed a center for ages.

3. ATLANTA HAWKS

AL HORFORD
F, FLORIDA

There’s a good chance the Hawks trade this pick, but regardless of who makes the selection here Horford should be the choice. The prototypical power forward, Horford has no weaknesses and was the underrated key to Florida’s repeat championships.

4. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

MIKE CONLEY
G, OHIO ST.

I don’t think this is a desperate need for the Grizzlies — last year’s firstrounder, Kyle Lowry, plays the same spot and looks like a keeper. But Conley is pretty clearly the best player on the board at this point, and the Griz can always trade Lowry later.

5. BOSTON CELTICS

YI JIANLIN
F, CHINA

The Celtics are embroiled in several different trade scenarios — including one that could land Shawn Marion from Phoenix. But the team picking here will take the Chinese 7-footer, who scouts say has all the requisite skills for stardom.

6. MILWAUKEE BUCKS

BRANDAN WRIGHT
F, NORTH CAROLINA

This pick makes a little more sense if the Bucks find a taker for Charlie Villanueva — something that’s been rumored the past few days. But Wright is the best talent available, and while his intensity comes and goes that could just be a function of his youth.

7. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

JOAKIM NOAH
F, FLORIDA

The only team outside the top two that’s guaranteed to keep its pick, the T’wolves are in search of frontcourt help to replace the (presumably) departed Garnett. Noah can’t score and is a bit overrated, but he’ll do the other little things Minnesota needs up front.

8. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS

COREY BREWER
G-F, FLORIDA

The Bobcats are taking offers for this pick. If they keep it, they’ll target the wing positions with either Brewer or USC guard Nick Young. I’m not wild about either player; then again, I’m not wild about the Bobcats’ decisionmakers either.

9. CHICAGO BULLS

JEFF GREEN
F, GEORGETOWN

Chicago has to examine trading the pick, since this draft doesn’t really have the kind of post-scoring power forward the Bulls need … unless they can trade up and nab Horford. If not, Green would continue their trend of taking collegians from winning programs.

10. SACRAMENTO KINGS

SPENCER HAWES
C, WASHINGTON

I think Hawes is overrated based on his lackluster collegiate rebounding numbers, but the Kings are so desperate for frontcourt help that it seems likely they’ll take the plunge anyway, hoping he can the rapidly declining Brad Miller in the middle.

11. ATLANTA HAWKS

RODNEY STUCKEY
G, EASTERN WASHINGTON

It’s unlikely the Hawks use this pick, with a deal with Seattle for Luke Ridnour supposedly in the works. If that goes through, I expect the Sonics to take Stuckey here, who flew under the radar at a small school but has bigtime scoring talent.

12. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

NICK YOUNG
G, USC

Young is the most overrated player in the first round. He’s a very poor ballhandler, and athletically I think he’s less than advertised. That said, a number of teams are said to covet him and he could end up going several spots higher.

13. NEW ORLEANS HORNETS

THADDEOUS YOUNG
F, GEORGIA TECH

Of the two Youngs, this one is the far more intriguing prospect in my book. The Hornets are desperate for help on the wings and this would be an outstanding pick-up for them if Thaddeous is still on the board here.

14. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

JAVARIS CRITTENTON
G, GEORGIA TECH

The Clips’ original succession strategy at the point went by the wayside when Shaun Livingston’s knee disintegrated this winter, so the new plan would be to groom Crittenton — who came out after his freshman year — for the job.

15. DETROIT PISTONS

RUDY FERNANDEZ
G, SPAIN

Detroit has been said to covet Stuckey, but I have a feeling Seattle will beat them to the punch at no. 11 by trading with Atlanta. If so, Pistons GM Joe Dumars may settle on Fernandez, an athletic Spaniard who is easily the best backcourt option left on the board.

16. WASHINGTON WIZARDS

JULIAN WRIGHT
F, KANSAS

Wright has a lot of skills, but he can’t shoot. That’s okay in this case — Washington has plenty of other guys to do that. They just need Wright to defend, rebound, dribble, and pass, and he can do those things well.

17. NEW JERSEY NETS

AL THORNTON
F, FLORIDA STATE

The Nets are also said to like troubled Boston College big man Sean Williams, but in the end I think his character questions push the Nets toward Thornton, a more traditional physical forward who adds muchneeded toughness inside. One red flag is his age — he’s a year older than LeBron James.

18. LOS ANGELES LAKERS

SEAN WILLIAMS
C, BOSTON COLLEGE

Williams had some issues in college and going to a place like L.A. might not be the best plan to keep him on the trouble, but he’s vastly more talented than most of the other names left on the board here.

19. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

JASON SMITH
F-C, COLORADO ST.

An athletic seven-footer who prefers facing the basket, Smith’s game will fit Nelly’s system well. However, the Warriors may package this pick to nab Yi at no. 5— he’d be a big draw with the Bay Area’s large Asian population.

20. MIAMI HEAT

ACIE LAW
G, TEXAS A&M

The Heat are desperate for backcourt help after Jason Williams and Gary Payton broke down on them this year and will gladly scoop up Law. Finnish point guard Petteri Koponen seems the better prospect, but the Heat strenuously avoid pursuing overseas talent.

21. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

JOSH McROBERTS
F, DUKE

A lot of folks are down on McRoberts after he underwhelmed in his two years at Duke, but I actually think he’ll be better in the pros than in college. McRoberts can do a little bit of everything and is a very good passer for his size.

22. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS

GABE PRUITT
G, USC

The Bobcats could use an athletic combo guard who can either backup Raymond Felton or play alongside him. Pruitt is more of a second-round talent in my book, but a lot of teams seem to be high on him.

23. NEW YORK KNICKS

WILSON CHANDLER
F, DEPAUL

It’s been rumored for a while that Chandler is the Knicks’ guy, since this is the type of athletic, shaky-shooting forward that Isiah Thomas seems to prefer (just like Renaldo Balkman and Trevor Ariza). The Knicks would also take a flier on Williams if he falls this far but that appears unlikely.

24. PHOENIX SUNS

JARED DUDLEY
G-F, BOSTON COLLEGE

I doubt the Suns will keep this pick, but regardless Dudley seems like a good pickup here. He’s an underrated commodity with an NBA body and a good inside-outside game, though he’d be a better on a halfcourt team than on the Suns.

25. UTAH JAZZ

MORRIS ALMOND
G, RICE

The perfect Utah player — Almond is strong and a ridiculously good rebounder for a guard, important qualities in the Jazz’s human pinball offensive system. He can’t handle the ball, but his shooting may also help space the floor for Carlos Boozer.

26. HOUSTON ROCKETS

NICK FAZEKAS
F, NEVADA

Houston general manager Daryl Morey is a big numbers guy, and few players have put up better numbers over the past two years than Fazekas. He could help Houston get more offense from its power forward slot — a glaring weakness last year.

27. DETROIT PISTONS

PETTERI KOPONEN
G, FINLAND

Even if free agent Chauncey Billups sticks around, the Pistons need an infusion of talent in the backcourt after Flip Murray disappointed and Lindsey Hunter started showing his age last season. Koponen is only 19 and greatly impressed scouts at the pre-draft camps.

28. SAN ANTONIO SPURS

TIAGO SPLITTER
C, BRAZIL

San Antonio continues its strategy of drafting foreign players and stashing them overseas. Splitter is a quality big man who can rebound and block shots, but the terms of his contract may keep him playing in Europe for several more years.

29. PHOENIX SUNS

MARCO BELINELLI
G, ITALY

Suns coach Mike D’Antoni both played and coached in Italy and speaks Italian, so this would be a perfect spot for Belinelli to land. The southpaw had an off year in Europe this season but impressed at last year’s world championships.

30. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

GLEN DAVIS
F, LSU

A big-time talent with a major weight problem, Davis lost 50 pounds to get ready for the draft … and still weighs 290. If he can keep the weight under control, he’ll be good, but the ghost of Tractor Traylor is lurking.

jhollinger@nysun.com