The Portland Trail Blazers choose first in the NBA Draft at Madison Square Garden and are expected to select 7-foot (2.13 m) Oden, the 19-year-old who led Ohio in scoring (15.7 avg), rebounding (9.6 rebounds) and blocked shots as a freshman.

"You'd have to look at a team funny if it didn't make Oden the number one pick," Oden's boyhood friend and Ohio State team mate Mike Conley Jr. told reporters on Wednesday.

Oden knows there is going to be pressure to produce right away in the NBA.

"That's hard and I know it's going to be difficult," Oden told reporters. "But I had a chance to talk to (former Spurs center) David Robinson and what he said to me was you just need to take time .. don't put it all on yourself."

The 6-10 (2.06 m) Durant, a great offensive talent who led the Big 12 in scoring (25.8 per game), rebounding (11.1 avg) and blocked shots as a freshman, is sure to go second to the Seattle SuperSonics should Oden be made the top pick.

Durant said comparisons to Tracy McGrady were flattering. "T-Mac is one of the best players in the league and I'm just honored to be in the same company as him," he said.

Oden and Durant are pegged by the most experts as future NBA top performers.

Some of the league's top names may have an impact on where the entering NBA class play as draft picks would likely be part of any big-time trade packages.

Bryant and Garnett have been rumored in a number of blockbuster deals, with the Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns mentioned resepectively as possible destinations.

Shawn Marion of the Suns, Lamar Odom of the Lakers and Jermaine O'Neal of the Pacers are among other big name players mentioned in trade talks ahead of the draft.

The rest of the top 10 draft selections could include such promising players as twice national college champion Florida's Al Horford, Joakim Noah and Corey Brewer, Ohio State point guard Mike Conley Jr. and Chinese power forward Yi Jianlian.

Brandan Wright of North Carolina, Thaddeus Young of Georgia Tech, Georgetown's Jeff Green and 7-1 center Spencer Hawes of Washington could also figure among top 10 picks.