#SLOE: People's Basketball Sim League

Hearing any deal for Penny or Kemp isn't dead but is on life support.

According to a league wide poll and thanks to twitter using the hashtag #ThingsIdRatherHaveOnMyTeamThanShandonAnderson, the Kings superstar is viewed as less valuable than Ramon noodles, a sack of potatoes, Jay Cutler, a midget who can beatbox, and the entire Seattle Supersonics franchise.

All the hub-bub in the media has focused on Kobe Bryant as the big name out of Chicago for RFA, but he's not the only name from Chicago. Erick "Alpha" Strickland was heard (off the record) saying he wouldn't mind a change of scenery so that he could be the top dog for a team.

Hawks management seems to be ok with matching a max for Big Ben, but they're going to be well in the tax. I'm hearing the Bucks/ Suns/ Rockets/ Wizards/ Timberwolves/ Grizzlies/ Pacers all have max offers waiting.

Bobby Jackson spoke to Sports Illustrated recently about his future with the 76ers. "Philadelphia has been a nice place to live, but if the direction of this team doesn't change soon, I'm OUT." Apparently Bobby, who is coming up on his final year of his rookie deal at the age of 27, wants to experience some form of success before he hits 30.

on the note of maxes, 17 teams have the ability to offer RFAs new max deals, expect them to come flying

Sources indicate the Rockets front office were amused with reports of the team potentially offering Ben Wallace a max. They feel though a very good player, he warrants a max just as much as Byron Russell did a few years ago.

Rockets will not offer Shaq a max contract to try and return to the team. Owner Lowell Ramos is concerned about his concussion problem and feels one more blow could cause serious long-term effects.

Rockets front offices deny the rumors that the concussion problem is the reason they won't offer Shaq a contract. The team wants to build around their young center Big Z and believe the odds are low of signing Shaq and don't want to hurt their chances of signing more realistic options. The team has "moved on from Shaq and believe everyone else should as well."

When the Grizz arose in Ben Wallace rumors, their self admitted "max-happy" GM was as surprised as anyone to hear his team being added to the list. When asked, he replied, "Look, no one loves RFA more than me especially when it comes to handing out max offers and tearing away a player from another team. But Ben Wallace just wouldn't fit here with the money we have committed to our current bigs, who we are happy with. Unless the sources know about a trade that I dont, dont expect Wallace to receive a Grizz offer. Some of these wings tho...."

Someone close to the Minny front office won't explicitly deny that they are interested in Ben Wallace. But he followed it up with, "Be real. We're interested in everyone right now."

Early RFA winners: Players from PHX. Already multiple max deals between them

WEBBER WATCH, DAY 2: EVERYBODY HATES (to make legit offers for) CHRIS.

Rumblings are that a new contender has emerged for Chris. The team of interest has always been high on him, but the real question is.. will he be able to give up the assets to match the high price tag of GM JNR?

Sources close to Phoenix's front office are worried that players could be more tempted by player options on a 4-yr deal over a max/supermax. Perhaps earlier reports regarding AI's fracturing relationship with the Suns organization are more than just "rumor" after all.

Elton Brand is not letting the rumors of him being on the trading block get to him. "I'm just going to go out there and give it my all for my team, whichever team that may be on Regular Season tip-off. If it's not the Raptors, then I'm sure it'll be somewhere else that appreciates me." These comments come on the heels of supposed reports of the Raptors shopping him for a veteran superstar, such as Webber. But were these talks limited only to Webber?

THIS JUST IN! Shandon Anderson has received quite a few bids, and one is much more substantial than the other... Shandon's getting paid! Whether it's by the Kings who match or by the offering team!

Chris Broussard wrote:Sources are really wrong being that Anderson is a UFA....

Source say Chris Broussard needs to stick to his own thread or he's gunna get banned.

Sources wrote:

Chris Broussard wrote:Sources are really wrong being that Anderson is a UFA....

Source say Chris Broussard needs to stick to his own thread or he's gunna get banned.

Sources familiar with the Hawks say they aren't solid on giving Ben Wallace a max deal or even matching a 4-yr max. With the high price tags of Donyell, Antonio McDyess, and recently acquired Grant Hill, the Hawks pen might be running out of ink for that check.

Chris Broussard was correct about the Rockets offering 6 maxes. However, we've found out Ben Wallace was not one of them.

Max offers have already been handed out to a whopping 11 players. 2 players garnering less interest than expected: Erick Strickland and Tony Delk. Both are viewed by their own organizations as expendable, and many expected them to change teams. Will anyone step up and pay these youngsters?

The question was posed yesterday: would Derek Fisher be paid as a starter or a backup: well it's been answered by at least one team with a resounding vote of STARTER. Moral of the story: if you want the young defensive/sweet shooting point guard, you better bring some serious cash.

Another reminder to everyone, Shaq is NOT an RFA. Second time already that someone has bid on him in the RFA period. Word is, however, Shaq was flattered by the early attention.

A league source was not able to tell me for sure which, but he leaked to me that one of Kobe, Camby, Nash, Allen, O'Neal, Ben Wallace, and Big Z has not received a single max offer sheet yet. Apparently the assumption with this one player is that the team will match and it's a waste of a bid. However, anything can happen as we know, and one special team is going to be VERY happy if this trend continues.