With NBAcamps beginning to start up, the Dakota Wizards are keeping a close eye on how former members - and possibly future members - of the team fare.

Three members of last year's squad are in NBA camps: Blake Ahearn with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Kevin Lyde with the Utah Jazz and Dontell Jefferson with the Los Angeles Clippers. Members from previous incarnations of the Wizards looking for a shot include Eddie Gill and Awvee Storey with the New Jersey Nets and Justin Williams with the Golden State Warriors. Kasib Powell could still latch on with a team after parting ways with the Miami Heat.

The Wizards no longer hold rights to all those players. But at least a few of them are likely to end up on Dakota's wish list of potential allocation players the team will send to the D-League, according to general manager Tom Wagganer.

Also on that list is former all-star Renaldo Major, who list all of last season with a heart ailment.

"Renaldo, we're just waiting on the paperwork," Wagganer said. "Technically we don't have his rights, but we've put him on the top of the list of allocation guys."

Wagganer noted that Kevin McHale said the Timberwolves wouldn't bring in Ahearn unless he has a good chance of making the squad.

"I could see where they would want him on the team because of his potential upside," Wagganer said. "Or Icould see them sending him (to theWizards) where he's just an hour flight away if he progresses.

Each team is able to protect up to six players that played on their squad last season or so-called allocation players - players of "regional significance."

High on Wagganer's list from last season are Ahearn,Jefferson and Lyde, if he is interested in returning. David Bell and late-season pickup Michael Peeples are also possibilities, as is Maurice Baker, although Wagganer indicated the veteran point guard is probably more likely to play overseas.

Just who qualifies as an allocated player is a topic sure to come up at coaches and owners meetings next month. Because not many local players can make the cut in the D-League, the Wizards will push hard to extend the rights to former players for longer than the next season.

For instance, Wagganer said the team would love to be able to have the D-League rights to former players like Williams, should he not stick in the NBA, or to Darius Rice. Wagganer said both have indicated a desire to play in Bismarck should they return to the D-League.

"You shouldn't be able to hold the guy's rights for eternity, but two years would be a good amount of time," he said.

There is a precedent for that, as Maurice Carter was awarded to Dakota as an allocation player in 2006. Carter, who won the MVP of the CBAtitle game for the Wizards in 2004, was not healthy enough to return.

There is another source for allocation players. If a player is drafted by an NBA team, signs his first NBA contract is cut and goes into the D-League player pool, that player's rights goes to the D-League affiliate. That means if the Washington Wizards or Memphis Grizzlies release one of their draft picks, Dakota would have his D-League rights

Catching a draft

The date of the D-League draft has not been finalized, though Dakota Wizards general mananger Tom Wagganer said it will likely be either Nov. 6 or 7.

Traditionally it has taken place the Thursday after the NBA season opens, but this year it will likely be pushed back a week. The Wizards would welcome the extra time to better prepare for any last-minute cuts. Last season the team had just hours to cut a deal with Kevin Lyde..

Taking notes

Wizards coach Duane Ticknor just spent a few days in the camp of the Washington Wizards, in attempt to familiarize themselves with the team's offense. Wagganer said he is optimistic that Washington - going into its third season as Dakota's parent club - might assign a player or two the Wizards this season.

Ticknor will also be headed to Milwaukee and Chicago.

Meanwhile, assistant coach Kevin Rice will spend some time with the Memphis Grizzlies. Rice's emphasis will be learning the defensive principles under Grizzlies' assistant KevinO'Neill.