Diable

Restricted free agent guard Charlie Bell has received a five-year, $18 million offer from the Miami Heat, according to National Basketball Association sources. The Milwaukee Bucks will have one week to match the offer or relinquish the rights to Bell. Bell said on Saturday that he did not wish to return to the Bucks. Milwaukee had offered a three-year, $9 million contract to the former Michigan State player. Bell's agent, Mark Bartelstein, confirmed the Miami offer sheet and said Bell had visited with Heat officials in Miami on Friday and Saturday. Bell met with Heat president and head coach Pat Riley. "I think he's excited about it," Bartelstein said. "He had a real good visit. Now it's obvious the Bucks have to make a hard decision. I'm frustrated it came to this point, but it did." Bell is the second Bucks guard pursued by Miami during the current off-season. The Heat made a strong run at unrestricted free agent guard Mo Williams, offering him a five-year, $31 million contract. But Williams eventually signed a six-year, $52 million contract with the Bucks, who were able to offer him a significantly larger deal. Bartelstein said Bell no longer will consider any European contract offers and will either be with the Heat or the Bucks. On Saturday, Bell said it was "time to move on" and that he no longer had the passion required to remain with Milwaukee. "I believe it's a privilege for every player to play in the NBA, and the last thing you want is to have a player say he doesn't want to be somewhere," Bartelstein said. "But all you can do is be honest about how you feel. Most people choose where they want to work, and his heart is just not in Milwaukee. He doesn't mean to be disrespectful or arrogant; he's just being honest."

http://blogs.jsonline.com/bucks/arch...from-heat.aspx

I wouldn't have any problem with making this sort of crazy offer to Bell if not for the length of the contract.That's probably what it'll take to get him away from Milwaukee.If we could overpay Bell for three years that would be one thing,he's infinitely better than McGinnis,but then there are probably guys in junior high who are better than McGinnis ever was.Five years is just way too long a committment and since we've already made a committment to sucking this season we may as well do it without overpaying Charlie Bell.

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