NBA Invites Top Prospects to 2011 Draft Green Room

The 2011 NBA Draft has its guest list set. The NBA sent out its invites to what it feels are the top 15 prospects available in the coming draft, giving those players the chance to sit back in the green room. The "green room" is basically the staging area for the prospects, where they can sit with their families and agents in order to enjoy their name getting called out on the stage.

It's a big deal to be drafted into the NBA, but it is equally climactic to receive an invite as one of the few players that gets to sit just off stage at the event. It means that their faces will be on camera as they wait to hear their names getting called, and then that they will be able to walk out on stage and shake the hand of NBA Commissioner David Stern. It's a big honor, even if some of the players might slip further into the first round when the draft actually takes place.

According to ESPN, the list of players getting the special treatment includes Kyrie Irving, Derrick Williams, Brandon Knight and Kemba Walker. Guards Klay Thompson and Jimmer Fredette are also in the mix, as well as brothers Marcus and Markieff Morris of Kansas. It is thought that Markieff was invited to celebrate the big day with his brother, because he might not be selected until a bit later in the first round.

The debate will begin about which players were left of the list (of course), and which ones should not be taken in the top 15 on draft day. Those debates are going to continue right up until the Cleveland Cavaliers make the first pick on June 23, but that is what happens in nearly every major sports draft. It would be far less interesting if everything were obvious to even the most novice of analyst that gets a talk show.

There will be 60 players selected in the 2011 NBA Draft, with the selections split over two rounds. Every team is originally given a selection in each round, but that franchise can choose to trade away the picks in order to improve their teams. That took place when the Los Angeles Clippers traded their first round pick to Cleveland in the Baron Davis deal. Now Cleveland gets to pick first and then fourth in the first round, nearly guaranteeing that they will add at least two great prospects on Jun 23. Many other teams will have to hope for the best later on in the first round, but there could be some diamonds out there to be had.