With the fourth pick in the 2002 NBA Draft, the Memphis Grizzlies select Drew Gooden, power forward from Kansas. …

Most of the experts the analysts who make a living producing “mock drafts” stake their reputations on NBA commissioner David Stern uttering those words tonight at New York’s Madison Square Garden, site of the annual draft of college, high school and foreign basketball players.

Drew Gooden talks to reporters about the NBA Draft. Gooden met the press Tuesday in New York to discuss tonight's event at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Gooden, an athletic 6-foot-10, 230-pounder who can play inside or out, is expected to follow Yao Ming (Houston), Jay Williams (Chicago) and Mike Dunleavy (Golden State) to the podium in ceremonies scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. tonight on TNT.

“Memphis. I’ll probably go to Memphis or Golden State,” the former Jayhawk said Tuesday from New York, asked for the zillionth time which team will make him a millionaire.

Gooden not only flashed his pearly whites for the media, but held a lighthearted workout with youngsters Tuesday afternoon in a promotional appearance at NBA Store in downtown Manhattan.

“It would be good either way,” the Richmond, Calif., native said of playing for the hometown Warriors or far-away Grizzlies.

“It’s just something that’s out of my control, so I try not to think about it or dwell on it too much. If you dwell on one team and you don’t get there, it’s a whole other story. So, I let them handle it,” he said of NBA teams. “If it turns out that I’m either at Golden State or Memphis, I think it will work out fine. I know I’ll go in the top five for sure. I’ve placed myself in that category.”

Gooden’s agent, Calvin Andrews of Bill Duffy Management in California, agrees.

“Barring a trade I think you’ll see Drew go to Golden State or Memphis,” Andrews said Tuesday as he watched Gooden take part in a free-throw drill with youngsters.

“Next to Yao Ming and Jason Williams, he is the next-best prospect. Both those teams can use his resources and ability.”

Make no mistake about it, though, trades could throw the draft into a tizzy.

“There’s a lot going on right now,” Andrews said. “I don’t know if any of the trades would be in an effort to get him, but I think there are some teams trading up.”

Even if there are no trades, there’s always the slight chance Gooden could slip past Golden State and Memphis to fifth (Denver), sixth (Cleveland) or seventh (New York).

“I guess I could end up with any of those 29 teams. There are 29 picks in the first round, so you don’t know what is going to happen until tomorrow,” Gooden said.

“I really don’t care. This is not like college where you get recruited and pick the place you want to play. Basically the ball is dropped and if you are taken 13th, you’ve got to live with it.”

Truth be known, Gooden would like to play for one special team.

“As a little kid, one of my dreams was to play for the Lakers,” Gooden said. “I am a Lakers’ fan. I cheered for the Lakers this year. I cheered for them last year and the year before that. This is the last year to cheer for them because I probably won’t be with that team.”

An easy-going, adaptable guy, Gooden can see himself playing in a lot of cities.

Like Houston, which is expected to select 7-foot-5 Ming of China.

“I think I’d fit in well with the Rockets,” Gooden said. “They need big guys, and I believe I can help. They are a team with a lot of playoff potential.”

Like Chicago, expected to nab Duke point guard Williams.

“I know a lot about the Bulls,” Gooden said. “When I was a kid I used to dream about playing next to Michael Jordan and B.J. Armstrong and coach (Bill) Cartwright. I think they just need a few more players to help rebuild this dynasty.”

Like Golden State, a team he followed as a toddler. Some say the fact Gooden has purchased a home in California means he’s secretly been told he’ll be taken by the Warriors.

“I would like it a lot,” Gooden said. “Run TMC with with Mitch Richmond, Chris Mullin and Tim Hardaway out there, I definitely know all about that (past Warriors teams). I would have a big support group coming to the games watching me play there.”

Like Memphis.

“Jerry West (president) is going to come in and do some good things. The sky is the limit for a team like Memphis,” Gooden said of the Grizzlies’ new president of basketball operations.

West, in fact, told Gooden the Grizzlies want him.

“The statement he (West) made was quote, unquote, ‘If you are around when we pick, I’d take you,”’ Gooden’s grandfather, Andy, said of West. “You have to take it all with a grain of salt.”

Memphis player personnel director Tony Barone, the former Texas A&M coach, scouted several KU games last season.

“He’s everything he’s advertised to be,” Barone said. “I’ve seen him a lot. A guy his size at 6-11, his ball quickness is phenomenal.”

Gooden exploded on the national scene last season, earning Big 12 player of the year and first-team All-America honors after averaging 19.8 points and 11.4 rebounds.

Kansas coach Roy Williams said Gooden deserves to be tabbed early.

“You never know what’s going to happen. There could be some crazy trades, crazy maneuvering,” Williams said, “but I can’t imagine any scenario that would knock Drew out of the top four.”

Deep down, teams might be afraid to make the same mistake they made in letting ex-Jayhawk Paul Pierce slip to No. 10 in the 1998 Draft.

In that draft, the Los Angeles Clippers took Michael Olawokandy No. 1, while Dallas selected Robert Traylor at No. 6, Philadelphia Larry Hughes at No. 8, all ahead of Pierce, who finished third in the NBA in scoring last season.

“There’s no doubt they made a mistake with Paul Pierce. I don’t think they’ll make that same mistake with Drew,” said Williams, who tonight will watch the draft on a TV set with youngsters attending his basketball camp.

Williams will be interested in seeing what Gooden is wearing when he steps to the podium on draft night. Gooden said he’ll have on a “sexy suit.”

“It will be a very, very nice suit,” Gooden’s agent, Andrews said with a laugh. “That’s all I can tell you now. You’ll have to wait and see.”

In all seriousness. …

“I am very anxious to try to put my hat on as early as possible and go up there and shake commissioner Stern’s hand and take my photo,” Gooden said less than 18 hours before the start of the draft. “This is one of my dreams, and tomorrow it will come true.”