by Matthew Brennan, D-League.com

The West Divison features five teams, with the Idaho Stampede the only team that made the playoffs last season. The Stampede, who finished in a tie for the league's best record in 2006-07, will be joined by the Anaheim Arsenal, Bakersfield Jam, Los Angeles D-Fenders, and the expansion Utah Flash.

Anaheim Arsenal

2006-07 record: 23-27, Fifth in Western Division
Head Coach: Reggie Geary, second season
Playoffs: None

Affiliates/Eligible Assignments
Los Angeles Clippers: Paul Davis, Al Thornton
Orlando Magic: James Augustine, Marcin Gorcat, J.J. Redick
Atlanta Hawks: Al Horford, Solomon Jones, Acie Law, Mario West, Shelden Williams

Anaheim will enter their second season under head coach Reggie Geary. They selected former NBA first round pick Kedrick Brown with the 9th overall pick in the draft. Brown is an athletic players with loads of potential who could become one of the league's top players if he shows the abilities that made him an NBA lottery pick by the Boston Celtics. On the perimeter, former Los Angeles Clippers draft pick Guillermo Diaz should be the go-to guy. Diaz is an amazing athlete who played shooting guard in college, but at 6-2 he may have to make the adjustment to point guard in the pros. Steven Smith is the top returning player for the Arsenal. The former La Salle star can play both forward positions at 6-9 and averaged 18.6 points and 6.8 rebounds in 22 D-League games in 2006-07. The Arsenal received only one assigned player last year in Orlando's James Augustine, who may make a return trip as he has played sparingly for the Magic this season.

Idaho's Randy Livingston is the 2006-07 D-League MVP. Layne Murdoch/NBAE/Getty

Bakersfield Jam

2006-07 record: 19-31, Sixth in Western Division
Head Coach: Jim Harrick, second season
Playoffs: None

Affiliates/Eligible Assignments
Golden State Warriors: Kelenna Azubuike, Marco Belinelli, Patrick O'Bryant, Kosta Perovic, Brandan Wright
Sacramento Kings: Quincy Douby, Spencer Hawes, Darryl Watkins, Justin Williams

Jim Harrick is back for another season as the Jam attempt to reach the playoffs for the first time. Bakersfield selected point guard Jamison Brewer with their first draft choice. Brewer is an NBA veteran who played for the Pacers and the Knicks, and spent time in the ABA last year. The returning Yuta Tabuse and Brewer should man the point guard spot for Bakersfield. In the frontcourt, Brandon Bowman and Roderick Riley are the top returning players, but most of the starting jobs are wide-open at this point. The Jam could get some help from the NBA, as the Golden State Warriors have a large group of rookies on the bench who could benefit from playing time in the D-League. The Warriors assigned center Patrick O'Bryant to the Jam for a large stretch of his rookie season in 2006-07.

Idaho Stampede

2006-07 record: 33-17, First in Western Division
Head Coach: Bryan Gates, second season
Playoffs: Lost to Colorado 94-91 (OT) in Western Final

Affiliates/Eligible Assignments
Seattle Supersonics: Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Mickael Gelabale, Mouhamed Sene.
Portland Trail Blazers: LaMarcus Aldridge, Rudy Fernandez, Taurean Green, Josh McRoberts, Greg Oden, Sergio Rodriguez, Brandon Roy

The Stampede should be D-League contenders once again behind returning MVP Randy Livingston and the reigning Coach of the Year, Bryan Gates. Livingston will be joined in the backcourt by first round draft pick Jamaal Tatum, last season's Missouri Valley Player of the Year. Idaho should also be strong at the forwards postions with the return of center Lance Allred and forward Ricky Sanchez. Allred was impressive down the stretch the last season after moving into starting lineup, posting 24 points and 17 rebounds in Idaho's playoff loss to Colorado. He traveled to China during the summer with the D-League Ambassadors to compete in the Stankovic Cup. Sanchez, a 6-11 forward, averaged 11.6 points and knocked down 98 three-pointers last season. Local product Cory Violette, who played his college ball at Gonzaga, should also add some muscle to the Stampede lineup at 6-9, 255 lbs.

Brian Chase was a D-League All-Star for the Los Angeles D-Fenders last season. Juan Ocampo/NBAE/Getty

Los Angeles D-Fenders

2006-07 record: First season
Head Coach: Dan Panaggio, second season
Playoffs: None

Affiliates/Eligible Assignments
Los Angeles Lakers: Javaris Crittenton, Jordan Farmar, Coby Karl

The D-Fenders and head coach Dan Pannagio enter their second season after just missing out on a playoff berth in 2006-07. Los Angeles returns two of the league's top scorers in Devin Green and Brian Chase. Green, a 6-7 swingman, averaged 19.3 points in the first 14 games of the 2006-07 season before heading overseas. Chase joined the D-Fenders after being waived by Utah and averaged 16.7 points and 4.2 rebounds, earning a spot on the D-League All-Star team. The 5-8 guard returns to Los Angeles after playing in Miami during the preseason with ... Devin Green. The D-Fenders will employ a veteran presence in the post with former Laker Jelani McCoy, their first round selection in the D-League Draft. Second round choice Robert Whaley and a returning Sean Banks also add some more NBA experience to the D-Fenders' roster.

Utah Flash

2006-07 record: First season
Head Coach: Brad Jones, first season
Playoffs: First season

Affiliates/Eligible Assignments
Boston Celtics: Glen Davis, Leon Powe, Gabe Pruitt, Rajon Rondo Brandon Wallace
Utah Jazz: Morris Almond, Ronnie Brewer, Kyrylo Fesenko, Paul Millsap

The Flash enter their first season after enjoying productive hauls in both the regular and expansion drafts. Former Arkansas players Brian Jackson and James Lang should play a big role in the paint for Utah, while first round draft choice Kevin Kruger is a point guard who picked up some NBA experience in Orlando Magic training camp. Forward Kevin "Butter" Johnson and center Jeff Hagen also have D-League experience. The Flash already have two NBA-assigned players in training camp, with 7-1 rookie center Kyrylo Fesenko heading down the road from the Utah Jazz, and rookie forward Brandon Wallace on assignment from the Boston Celtics. As demonstrated by Fort Worth's track record last season, a team with a steady population of NBA-assigned players can be very successful in the D-League.