The Meadowlands. A Nets uniform. Grown men have submerged their heads in vats of acid rather than be a part of that picture. But two players who seem to be the consensus favorites for the Nets in tonight’s NBA draft, Michigan State guard Jason Richardson and Charlotte forward Rodney White, both would revel at hearing their names called at No. 7.

The odds-on choice all along for the Nets has been Richardson, who hopes to follow the NBA path of recent Spartan products Eric Snow and Morris Peterson. And if that path ends in New Jersey, the ultra-athletic Richardson would be ecstatic.

“I know they’re a young team with a lot of young guys: Stephon Marbury, Kenyon Martin, Keith Van Horn and they’re in a rebuilding process. They’re not in a desperate need or anything,” offered the 6-6 Richardson, who pretty much was right until that last statement. “One day, they’ll be a playoff contending team and hopefully I can be a part of that.”

“But I don’t know what’s going to happen,” continued Richardson. “You hear this and that. I’ve heard New Jersey, Golden State, Detroit.”

And daily, you hear rumors of trades and each team growing more enamored with a different pick. One rumor floating yesterday was a blockbuster involving the Nets: Stephon Marbury and the No. 7 pick to the Clippers for the No. 2 pick and a three-player package that included Keyon Dooling and Corey Maggette. Another rumor floating involved a three-team deal with Golden State and Utah that, in part, would land Keith Van Horn with the Jazz and bring the Nets the Warriors’ No. 5 pick.

But the Nets, who have maintained they do not see any trades for them by draft night, seemed more content on trying to figure out the draft picks. The Grizzlies, at No. 6, were said to also be infatuated with Richardson. But there also was no guarantee that White would last to the Nets, either.

“I had a pretty good workout for them [Nets],” said White. “They told me, ‘Well, Rodney, you have an amazing talent but we don’t think you’re going to fall to seven. That’s what they told me. That tells you if I get to seven, they’re consider it.”

So the problem is a growing feeling that both those names will be called before the Nets pick. Obviously, someone would fall. Who? Get your dart board.

SEVENTH HEAVEN?

The Nets select seventh in today’s NBA Draft. Here’s a look at who they may get and who they’ve taken previously in same slot:

2000 Chris Mihm, Cavaliers

1999 Richard Hamilton, Wizards

1998 Jason Williams, Kings

1997 Tim Thomas, Nets

1996 Lorenzen Wright, Clippers

1995 Damon Stoudamire, Raptors

1994 Lamond Murray, Clippers

1993 Bobby Hurley, Kings

1992 Walt Williams, Kings

1991 Luc Longley, T’wolves

1990 Lionel Simmons, Kings

1989 George McCloud, Pacers

1988 Tim Perry, Suns

1987 Kevin Johnson, Cavaliers

1986 Roy Tarpley, Mavericks

1985 Chris Mullin, Warriors

1984 Alvin Robertson, Spurs

1983 Thurl Bailey, Jazz

1982 Quintin Dailey, Bulls

1981 Steve Johnson, Kings

1980 Mike Gminski, Nets