Spurs Brazil
09-17-2007, 05:22 PM
By Ira Winderman | Sun-Sentinel.com
4:12 PM EDT, September 17, 2007
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Digg Del.icio.us Facebook Furl Google Newsvine Reddit Spurl Yahoo Print Single page view Reprints Reader feedback Text size: In extending an offer sheet Monday to outside-shooting Bucks guard Charlie Bell, the Heat showed it is willing to invest more than $18 million on an already crowded backcourt.
After losing out on Bucks point guard Mo Williams earlier this offseason in free agency, the Heat on Monday put in a bid for his frequent 2006-07 Milwaukee backcourt partner.
However, because Bell is a restricted free agent, the Bucks now have until next Monday to decide whether to match the five-year, $18.3 million offer.
The Bucks last week appeared to reach an impasse with Bell, with the 28-year-old guard seeking in excess of $3 million per season, more than Milwaukee was willing to offer to a backup behind Williams, Michael Redd and even Desmond Mason.
The Heat, however, was willing to do just that with its own crowded backcourt, after meeting over the weekend in South Florida with the three-year NBA veteran who also has spent parts of three seasons in the Italian League.
The issue now becomes whether there is a Part B to the equation, should the Heat land the rights to the 6-foot-3, 200-pound guard.
For now, Bell has been told he will be part of an open competition at point guard with incumbent starter Jason Williams and July free-agent addition Smush Parker. Bell could also swing to shooting guard, where the Heat starts Dwyane Wade and also has first-round pick Daequan Cook and non-guaranteed veteran Penny Hardaway under contract.
A Bell signing could be a precursor to a follow up move, possibly the unloading of Jason Williams' expiring contract. Already roughly $4 million over the NBA dollar-for-dollar luxury tax on excessive payrolls, the Heat would move to more than $7 million above the tax should it add Bell.
A Bell addition not only would end any chance of veteran Gary Payton returning to the Heat for another season, but also would leave in question the futures with the team of second-year point guard Chris Quinn and offseason backcourt additions Hardaway and Devin Green. It also likely would end the team's interest in veteran free-agent shooting guard Allan Houston.
Bell appeared in all 82 games for the Bucks last season, starting 64 as Milwaukee dealt with injuries to Redd and Bobby Simmons. The veteran averaged 13.5 points, 3.0 assists, 2.9 rebounds, 1.18 steals in an average of 34.7 minutes last season with Milwaukee.
A member of the 2000 Michigan State NCAA championship team, Bell ranked 29th in the NBA last season in steals, 30th in assists-per-turnover ratio and 25th in 3-pointers made.
By rule, the Heat's offer to Parker had to be for at least two seasons. Instead, it extended an offer at the maximum length, in a bid to dissuade Milwaukee from matching.
The Heat had just over $3 million available as a starting point for the offer to Bell, after spending the rest of its mid-level salary-cap exception in July on Parker. Bell had threatened to return overseas for the coming season, going as far as to travel to Greece last week.
The Heat earlier this offseason lost out in its bid for the Bucks' Williams, with that outlay likely to impact Milwaukee's decision whether to match the bid for Bell.
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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/basketball/heat/sfl-heatbell091707,0,1719089.story
4:12 PM EDT, September 17, 2007
Article tools
E-mail Share
Digg Del.icio.us Facebook Furl Google Newsvine Reddit Spurl Yahoo Print Single page view Reprints Reader feedback Text size: In extending an offer sheet Monday to outside-shooting Bucks guard Charlie Bell, the Heat showed it is willing to invest more than $18 million on an already crowded backcourt.
After losing out on Bucks point guard Mo Williams earlier this offseason in free agency, the Heat on Monday put in a bid for his frequent 2006-07 Milwaukee backcourt partner.
However, because Bell is a restricted free agent, the Bucks now have until next Monday to decide whether to match the five-year, $18.3 million offer.
The Bucks last week appeared to reach an impasse with Bell, with the 28-year-old guard seeking in excess of $3 million per season, more than Milwaukee was willing to offer to a backup behind Williams, Michael Redd and even Desmond Mason.
The Heat, however, was willing to do just that with its own crowded backcourt, after meeting over the weekend in South Florida with the three-year NBA veteran who also has spent parts of three seasons in the Italian League.
The issue now becomes whether there is a Part B to the equation, should the Heat land the rights to the 6-foot-3, 200-pound guard.
For now, Bell has been told he will be part of an open competition at point guard with incumbent starter Jason Williams and July free-agent addition Smush Parker. Bell could also swing to shooting guard, where the Heat starts Dwyane Wade and also has first-round pick Daequan Cook and non-guaranteed veteran Penny Hardaway under contract.
A Bell signing could be a precursor to a follow up move, possibly the unloading of Jason Williams' expiring contract. Already roughly $4 million over the NBA dollar-for-dollar luxury tax on excessive payrolls, the Heat would move to more than $7 million above the tax should it add Bell.
A Bell addition not only would end any chance of veteran Gary Payton returning to the Heat for another season, but also would leave in question the futures with the team of second-year point guard Chris Quinn and offseason backcourt additions Hardaway and Devin Green. It also likely would end the team's interest in veteran free-agent shooting guard Allan Houston.
Bell appeared in all 82 games for the Bucks last season, starting 64 as Milwaukee dealt with injuries to Redd and Bobby Simmons. The veteran averaged 13.5 points, 3.0 assists, 2.9 rebounds, 1.18 steals in an average of 34.7 minutes last season with Milwaukee.
A member of the 2000 Michigan State NCAA championship team, Bell ranked 29th in the NBA last season in steals, 30th in assists-per-turnover ratio and 25th in 3-pointers made.
By rule, the Heat's offer to Parker had to be for at least two seasons. Instead, it extended an offer at the maximum length, in a bid to dissuade Milwaukee from matching.
The Heat had just over $3 million available as a starting point for the offer to Bell, after spending the rest of its mid-level salary-cap exception in July on Parker. Bell had threatened to return overseas for the coming season, going as far as to travel to Greece last week.
The Heat earlier this offseason lost out in its bid for the Bucks' Williams, with that outlay likely to impact Milwaukee's decision whether to match the bid for Bell.
More articles
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/basketball/heat/sfl-heatbell091707,0,1719089.story