The Dakota Wizards have a "big" problem going into tonight's D-League draft - the problem being they don't have any bigs.

The Wizards have a strong array of talented players 6-foot-7 or shorter, including former all-stars Renaldo Major and Maurice Baker, and the explosive Romel Beck.

But the Wizards don't have any power forwards or centers among their eight players, a need that the team obviously plans to address during the draft.

"Our top priority was going to be a point guard until we got (Maurice Baker) signed, now it's a big guy," Wizards coach Rory White said. "... You always want to be aware of the best player available, but that may not be what you need."

Dakota is hoping to add power forward David Monds, who was with the team late last season. The frontcourt also could be boosted if the Memphis Grizzlies again assign Hamed Haddadi to Dakota.

Two of the big guys on Dakota's radar are Garret Siler and Alade Aminu. Siler, a 7-foot center from Augusta State, was on the Timberwolves' Summer League team. Aminu is a 6-10 power forward out of Georgia Tech.

The Wizards won't pick until the 11th spot in the first round, which could change their strategy. If the big men they covet get picked, the Wizards could forsake need to take the best available athlete.

"We would be willing to look at other positions," said Scott Schroeder, the Wizards director of media and public relations. "It would be nice to bring in another veteran or fill up one of the two rookie spots."

Dakota is also looking at a pair of point guards, Jason Richards and Orien Greene. Richards played collegiately at Davidson and with the Miami Heat. Greene played at Louisiana-Lafayette and is a former Celtic.

But there are so many variables in play that it's hard to tell who will still be on the board at No. 11.

There are 201 players eligible for the draft, and 70 of them weren't added to the pool until Tuesday night. That means every team is frantically doing its best to sort through the possibilities.

"The first thing you do is talk to agents, former coaches, any contact who can get you information," White said. "You try to get any film you can get."

Technology has helped make that task easier, according to White.

"Everybody has their (highlights) on You Tube or their Web sites," White said.

Among the players Schroeder said the Wizards expect to be gone by the time they pick are Deron Washington, a 6-7 small forward out of Virginia Tech, and former Wizard Carlos Powell.

Powell was a third-team all-league pick for the Wizards in 2007-08. Powell averaged 22.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists in his one season in Bismarck.

Other former Wizards eligible to be drafted include Quemont Greer, also a former all-star, and Perrin Johnson.

Former Wizards on other teams' protected lists include Dontell Jefferson (Utah), Rod Benson (Reno) and Marcus Hubbard (Rio Grande Valley).

n LIVE UPDATES: The Tribune will provide live updates on the draft, which begins at 6 p.m., online. Go to www.bismarcktribune.com/sports/ and click on Lou Babiarz under "the recent sports blogs" heading on the right side of the page.

n NOTES: Latavious Williams is the first player coming directly out of high school into the D-League draft. Williams is a 6-8 small forward who is from Mississippi, but played in Texas. ... The eight-round draft will use a serpentine format, meaning the Wizards will pick 11th in each odd-numbered round and sixth in each even-numbered round. ... The draft will be shown on NBA TV. ... The Wizards' draft party begins at 5:30 p.m. at Stadium Sports Bar.

First Round

1. Albuquerque Thunderbirds

2. Erie BayHawks

3. Los Angeles D-Fenders

4. Bakersfield Jam

5. Utah Flash

6. Austin Toros

7. Reno Bighorns

8. Maine Red Claws

9. Iowa Energy

10. Fort Wayne Mad Ants

11. DAKOTA WIZARDS

12. Rio Grande Valley Vipers

13. Sioux Falls Skyforce

14. Springfield Armor

15. Idaho Stampede

16. Tulsa 66ers