Greg Oden will draw attention. So will Kevin Durant. And surely, a draft pick few thought would make a difference will surprise the experts and make a difference.

All of this doesn’t mean Stern and the NBA will get off unscathed, however.

There is a dark cloud, and it will undoubtedly hover. Occasionally an official will make a screwy call, as officials are wont to do, and some wag will cry out that it’s because he is in arrears to the Gambinos.

Stern, who likes to talk, and who especially likes to chide reporters for asking questions he deems beneath him, will be humbled by this whole thing for approximately 10 minutes. Then he’ll lash out at critics, as is his modus operandi. His prickly attitude, rather than serve to defend the league and his stewardship of it, will instead stoke the fire.

Stern will keep the issue alive, not because he wants to, but because he can’t help himself. He’ll insist that the NBA is working overtime to keep its house clean. Reporters will hound him about the fact that they’re not so sure it’s as spic and span as he believes it is.

And guess what? That will be just what the league needs to keep itself moving forward and to escape the specter of Donaghy.

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The more the Fourth Estate performs its watchdog function against society’s leaders, the better off society will be. The more Stern is forced to defend the sanctity of his league’s officiating crew, the more likely that another Donaghy won’t come along.

While Stern and the media parry, basketball will continue to be played. Fans will keep buying tickets. They may crack jokes about crooked refs. Their heckling toward the officials might become a little more pointed. But their attention will inevitably turn to pure, unadulterated hoops.

ESPN and other outlets will periodically revisit the issue. Internet freaks who scrutinize the tiniest fluctuations in points scored, fouls called or money wagered will be emboldened by this scandal, and will remain on high alert throughout the season. That’s all good.

NBA life will go on. Armageddon will have to wait.

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