The NBA Draft is moving...to Newark, reports the Star-Ledger.  Newark Mayor Cory Booker, NBA Commissioner David Stern and the ownership of the Devils and Nets will announce that 2011 Draft will be held at the Prudential Center next June 23, moving it from the cozy confines of the Theater at Madison Square Garden to the roomier Rock. The announcement will be made just before the Pistons game.

The main reason: The Garden, home to the Draft for more than a decade, is undergoing renovations the next three summers. The renovations have already forced the New York Liberty to move to Prudential Center.  The Rock will now be home, either permanently or temporarily, to the Devils, the Nets, the Liberty, Seton Hall basketball, the NCAA East Regionals and the NBA Draft.

The last Draft held in New Jersey took place at the Continental Airlines Arena in 1996, one of the greatest --if not the greatest-- NBA draft.  It featured Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, Ray Allen, Marcus Camby, Stephon Marbury, Jermaine O'Neal, Steve Nash and Kerry Kittles.

• NBA Draft will be held in Newark in 2011 - David Giambusso - Star-Ledger
• NBA Commissioner David Stern announces 2011 draft to be held at the Prudential Center (Video) - Michael Monday - Star-Ledger
• Newark to host 2011 NBA Draft - Al Iannazzone - The Record
• NBA Draft leaving Madison Square Garden for Prudential Center - Stefan Bondy - New York Daily News
• NBA moving draft out of New York City to Newark for one year - Kurt Helin - NBC Sports