Rashard Lewis‘ fat $100 million-plus contract had everyone asking the obvious question: Is he a max contract player? Another guy whose name will be linked to that question sometime soon is Al Jefferson. The Celtics have until October to ink Jefferson to an extension, or else he’ll become a free agent in ‘08. Yesterday’s Boston Globe wondered if Big Al is worth a max contract. The C’s fans in the Dime office are all in love with Jefferson, and they’re not the only ones. He averaged 16 points and 11 boards last season — including just under 20 ppg in March — and showed game like a more-athletic Zach Randolph or maybe a less-athletic Elton Brand. It seemed no one in Boston wanted to trade Jefferson earlier this summer, even if it meant getting KG in return, but is he worth max dollars? He’s only really had one really good year (this past year), but Randolph was in the same position when he got a max deal from Portland. With good young bigs at a premium, we think the C’s will ante up … A squad of D-League “ambassadors” are in China playing in the Stankovic Cup tournament. Team D-League dropped its opener to Slovenia on Saturday, but came back yesterday to beat New Zealand. Clay Tucker, who we liked during his run with the Mavs summer-league team, scored 17 points. With the Mavs (and so many other teams) looking for shooters, we think Tucker has a shot to at least get a 10-day next season if he doesn’t stick on a roster in training camp … Yi Jianlian scored 18 in China’s W against Venezuela over the weekend … Smush Parker didn’t wait long to potentially burn bridges in L.A. “D-Wade is more of a people person than Kobe,” Smush told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “I’m looking forward to jelling with Wade, and playing with him. He’s going to be a great teammate.” Not a blatant blast at Kobe, but he got his point across. Smush also said in that same article, “Whatever they want me to do, I’ll do. I’ll be a floor leader, a coach on the floor. I’m a point guard; the offense and defense starts with me.” Good attitude to have, but we all know everything in Miami starts with Flash … Guess who’s writing a book? Charles Oakley. No word on whether or not the working title is “Headslap,” but Oak told the Toronto Star, “I’m not pulling any punches. True stories. It ain’t one of those Charles Barkley fake books, it’s a Charles Oakley book. It’s not an O.J. book, it’s an Oakley book.” He said there’s some super-controversial stuff in there, adding, “People might try to come after us and take us down, maybe send a hit man. I have to protect myself, can’t let it get out.” We always see him hanging with MJ, so if the book is as real as Oak says it is, there should be lots of stories bout him rolling with Mike. Oh, and 43-year-old Oakley said he could come back and play in the League if the money was right. “I’m not coming back cheap,” he said. “If you read this article and you think you can get me cheap, there’s another thought coming.” Forget playing ball; what’s it gonna take for someone to get Oakley a TV studio job? … We’re out like an Oakley comeback …

Rashard Lewis‘ fat $100 million-plus contract had everyone asking the obvious question: Is he a max contract player? Another guy whose name will be linked to that question sometime soon is Al Jefferson. The Celtics have until October to ink Jefferson to an extension, or else he’ll become a free agent in ‘08. Yesterday’s Boston Globe wondered if Big Al is worth a max contract. The C’s fans in the Dime office are all in love with Jefferson, and they’re not the only ones. He averaged 16 points and 11 boards last season — including just under 20 ppg in March — and showed game like a more-athletic Zach Randolph or maybe a less-athletic Elton Brand. It seemed no one in Boston wanted to trade Jefferson earlier this summer, even if it meant getting KG in return, but is he worth max dollars? He’s only really had one really good year (this past year), but Randolph was in the same position when he got a max deal from Portland. With good young bigs at a premium, we think the C’s will ante up … A squad of D-League “ambassadors” are in China playing in the Stankovic Cup tournament. Team D-League dropped its opener to Slovenia on Saturday, but came back yesterday to beat New Zealand. Clay Tucker, who we liked during his run with the Mavs summer-league team, scored 17 points. With the Mavs (and so many other teams) looking for shooters, we think Tucker has a shot to at least get a 10-day next season if he doesn’t stick on a roster in training camp … Yi Jianlian scored 18 in China’s W against Venezuela over the weekend … Smush Parker didn’t wait long to potentially burn bridges in L.A. “D-Wade is more of a people person than Kobe,” Smush told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “I’m looking forward to jelling with Wade, and playing with him. He’s going to be a great teammate.” Not a blatant blast at Kobe, but he got his point across. Smush also said in that same article, “Whatever they want me to do, I’ll do. I’ll be a floor leader, a coach on the floor. I’m a point guard; the offense and defense starts with me.” Good attitude to have, but we all know everything in Miami starts with Flash … Guess who’s writing a book? Charles Oakley. No word on whether or not the working title is “Headslap,” but Oak told the Toronto Star, “I’m not pulling any punches. True stories. It ain’t one of those Charles Barkley fake books, it’s a Charles Oakley book. It’s not an O.J. book, it’s an Oakley book.” He said there’s some super-controversial stuff in there, adding, “People might try to come after us and take us down, maybe send a hit man. I have to protect myself, can’t let it get out.” We always see him hanging with MJ, so if the book is as real as Oak says it is, there should be lots of stories bout him rolling with Mike. Oh, and 43-year-old Oakley said he could come back and play in the League if the money was right. “I’m not coming back cheap,” he said. “If you read this article and you think you can get me cheap, there’s another thought coming.” Forget playing ball; what’s it gonna take for someone to get Oakley a TV studio job? … We’re out like an Oakley comeback …