Heat sign Bucks' Bell to offer sheet
Having failed to lure one of Milwaukee's most productive guards through free agency earlier this offseason, the Heat has now targeted another Buck for its backcourt.
The Heat has extended a five-year, $18.3 million offer sheet to Bucks restricted free agent guard Charlie Bell, who has reportedly told the Bucks he is not interested in returning to Milwaukee this season.
Because Bell is restricted, the Bucks can retain the services of the 6-foot-3 combination guard by matching the Heat's offer sheet. If the Bucks do not match Miami's offer, Bell would become the biggest of the Heat's three offseason moves to upgrade an aging team that is a season removed from an NBA championship.
Bell's agent, Mark Bartelstein, didn't immediately return a message on Monday seeking comment. But it is not the first time the Heat has dealt with Bartelstein this offseason.
Bartelstein represents Heat forward Antoine Walker and also former Heat player James Posey, who signed a free-agent deal with Boston. Bartelstein also represents Bucks point guard Mo Williams, who turned down a $32 million offer from the Heat for a six-year, $51 million deal to stay in Milwaukee.
Bell, 28, averaged 13.5 points, 3.0 assists and 2.9 rebounds last season. He played in all 82 games and made 64 starts for the Bucks. Bell, 28, averaged 13.5 points, 3.0 assists and 2.9 rebounds last season. He played in all 82 games and made 64 starts for the Bucks, but had grown frustrated as negotiations between Bartelstein and the Bucks stalled.
The Bucks reportedly made Bell a qualifying offer of $9 million for three years. Bell has been unwilling to sign, and had instead considered playing in Europe.
Bartelstein told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that Bell had met over the weekend with Heat president and coach Pat Riley.
''I'm just unhappy with the way the summer has gone,'' Bell told the Journal-Sentinel. ``I don't know if I can go out there and play the best I can play for Milwaukee, knowing everything that's happened.''
Bell, whose career includes three NBA seasons and a stint in Europe, would join an already crowded Heat backcourt that includes starters Jason Williams and Dwyane Wade.
Bell would help offset the early loss of Wade, who is recovering from knee and shoulder surgeries and is expected to miss at least the first two weeks of the season.
The Heat also acquired first-round draft pick Daequan Cook and signed free agent Smush Parker from the Los Angeles Lakers. Former NBA All-Star Penny Hardaway, who hasn't played in two seasons because of a knee injury, will enter training camp next month on a non-guaranteed contract.
Because the Heat is already over the salary cap and about $4 million in excess of the NBA's dollar-for-dollar luxury tax penalty, Bell's addition would require the Heat to make a trade by the February trading deadline or make some significant roster cuts in order to reduce salary.
The Heat currently has about $4 million tied up on contract offers for next season, including a $900,000 tender to reserve forward Earl Barron. The Heat opens training camp on Oct. 2.
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