By LARRY LAGE, AP Sports Writer
September 15, 2007

Restricted free-agent guard Charlie Bell (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3570/;_ylt=AnCiPaJ0PkTNr7Z1o1cysJeLvLYF) said Saturday that he does not want to return to the Milwaukee Bucks (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/mil/;_ylt=ApYq4opB7x2ZI6NDPlN7VJKLvLYF) this season.

"They told me they were going to take care of Mo Williams (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3750/;_ylt=Aj1w3pERXtN4tmMj331YCPuLvLYF) and that they would take care of me, but they haven't," Bell said during a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "I'm either going to sign an offer sheet with another NBA team, or I'm going to accept a great deal to play in Greece.

"I don't want to go back to Milwaukee. I'm really disappointed in how this has turned out, but I don't see any way I could play for the Bucks again because my heart just won't be in it."

Bell signed a two-year contract with Milwaukee in August 2005 after leading the Spanish League in scoring, averaging 27 points for Breogan, the previous season. He played in all 82 regular-season games for the Bucks in 2006-07, averaging 13.5 points and 35 minutes.

The 28-year-old Flint, Mich., native helped Michigan State win the 2000 national championship but went undrafted. Bell played for the Phoenix Suns (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/pho/;_ylt=AmWaGvEN.NrDmh2gPRAlmteLvLYF) and Dallas Mavericks (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/dal/;_ylt=Aty9wgHMxBW4STnKxwjRsQSLvLYF) in 2001-02 and then spent three seasons in Italy, leading all scorers in 2003-04 with 25.5-point average for Livorno.
The Bucks signed Williams, a point guard, to a six-year, $51.5 million contract in July.


Bell: 'I don't want to go back to Milwaukee' - NBA - Yahoo! Sports (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Auy3z8BSHJ2u0Lm5.2BKTwu8vLYF?slug=ap-bucks-bell&prov=ap&type=lgns)

:hoops:

It looks like no one wants to play for the Bucks.

He'll get an offer from another team.

What happened to that team anyway? They were making the playoffs and then last year the bottom fell out.

Bell is fortunate that he got that huge deal out of them that he is comming off of. Probably will have to settle on 1/3 of that from another team.

No one wants to play for the bucks because they get no fan support compared to any other team. The only sport in Wisconsin that gets attention is football. You go to a sporting goods store in Wisconsin and you will see an unreal amount of packers stuff and maybe 1% of anything else for any other team.

No one wants to play for the bucks because they get no fan support compared to any other team. The only sport in Wisconsin that gets attention is football. You go to a sporting goods store in Wisconsin and you will see an unreal amount of packers stuff and maybe 1% of anything else for any other team.

No Badger stuff in sporting goods stores in Wisconsin?

I find that very upsetting!!

http://www.dane101.com/files/bucky.jpg


:hoops:

Heat sign Bucks' guard Charlie Bell to offer sheet
By TIM REYNOLDS, AP Sports Writer

September 17, 2007

MIAMI (AP) -- Restricted free-agent guard Charlie Bell (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3570/;_ylt=AoZ4FOHSybw9LKswqpdSQ1yLvLYF) signed a $18.5 million, five-year offer sheet with the Miami Heat (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/mia/;_ylt=AuQfb0AR52Go3w405m3KI9qLvLYF) on Monday, and now will wait to see if the Milwaukee Bucks (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/mil/;_ylt=Aq2h_RfcQYviD3g8WQIQC42LvLYF) choose to match that deal.

The 6-foot-3 Bell has made it clear in recent days that he wants to play for the Heat, who were foiled in a bid earlier this offseason to woo guard Mo Williams (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3750/;_ylt=AhNfNUYScH6aXisyqzUwfQGLvLYF) away from the Bucks. Bell averaged a career-high 13.5 points in a breakout season last year for Milwaukee, making 64 starts.

"It's been a very long and drawn out process this summer," said Bell's agent, Mark Bartelstein. "And Charlie is at the point where he's kind of broken his emotional ties to the Bucks."

The Bucks have seven days to match Miami's offer.

"I hope they don't match it," Bell said Monday afternoon i n a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "The Bucks said they didn't have this kind of money and didn't want to give me a long-term deal, so I would hope they stick to what they said and let me go... I'm really thankful Miami stepped up."

Bell signed with Milwaukee two seasons ago after averaging a league-best 27 points for Breogan of the Spanish League. He went undrafted after helping Michigan State win the 2000 national championship, played briefly with Phoenix and Dallas before spending three seasons playing in Italy.

He also had an offer from a Greek team, but South Florida is where he wants to be, Bartelstein said.

"He feels very strongly about it and his mind is made up," Bartelstein said.

Williams was Miami's top point-guard pursuit this summer, but could only offer him a deal worth about $31 million. Milwaukee easily topped that to retain Williams, giving him a six-year pact worth $51.5 million.

Bell's status, meanwhile, remained in limbo.

"I had a really bad summer because of how all of this went down with Milwaukee, so I don't want to be there," Bell said. "I don't think I could give my all to the Bucks anymore, so I hope they respect that."

And with training camp starting in two weeks, Bell hopes his wait is now over.

"The last thing Charlie or I want to do is be disrespectful about this," Bartelstein said. "But he signed the offer sheet with Miami, not with Milwaukee, and there's a reason for that."

AP Sports Writer Larry Lage in Detroit contributed to this report.

Heat sign Bucks' guard Charlie Bell to offer sheet - NBA - Yahoo! Sports (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Atd7.tIqNUCXsUHJpZlVfoW8vLYF?slug=ap-heat-bell&prov=ap&type=lgns)

:hoops:

That would be funny if Milwaukee matches the offer.

That would be funny if Milwaukee matches the offer.

It would make for great soap opera.

I would not want a guy like that on my team. What does he have to gain by blasting the team that gave him a chance in this league.

What does he have to gain by blasting the team that gave him a chance in this league.

That they won't extend a matching offer and he will get to play for the Heat rather than for the Bucks.

:hoops:

That they won't extend a matching offer and he will get to play for the Heat rather than for the Bucks.

:hoops:

Exactly. He'll probably apologize later, but right now he wants to play in sunny Florida.

I would not want a guy like that on my team. What does he have to gain by blasting the team that gave him a chance in this league.

Oh...maybe going overseas and making twice the money he could make here.

That they won't extend a matching offer and he will get to play for the Heat rather than for the Bucks.



The classy way to do it would have been to go to the Owner and GM privately to voice his intentions. Then issue a press release thanking the Buck fans for their support.

If I'm the Bucks, maybe I match the offer and then trade Bell. At least you get something in return. You also get the last laugh on Bell.

Think the Bucks would trade him for Jr?

Think the Bucks would trade him for Jr?

That would be doing Bell a favor. To punish him, you send him to a team like the Grizzlies and make him play with Darko. :stirthepot:

That would be doing Bell a favor. To punish him, you send him to a team like the Grizzlies and make him play with Darko. :stirthepot:

Charlie Bell would love to play with Darko on the Grizzlies. The only thing I would be concerned about would be that Charlie woud die of happiness before he could join the team.

I hope the Bucks match it. I want the Heat to suffer with a rehabilitating Wade, over the hill White Chocolate, Broken Penny and Smush at the guards. Don't need them to upgrade their back court anymore with Bell who can shoot the three.

It will be tough season competing with the Cavs, Celtitcs and Bulls, we don't need the Heat in striking distance hanging around sniffing at the 4th seed.

The Bucks matching is exactly the kind of low class move that will ensure that FAs never come to your city.

The Bucks matching is exactly the kind of low class move that will ensure that FAs never come to your city.

Some would see that move as protecting their investment in the best interest of the franchise.

The Bucks did match the Miami offer. Just read it on the ESPN ticker.

Some would see that move as protecting their investment in the best interest of the franchise.

c'mon man, you know they did that just to spite him. If they really wanted to keep him, they would have locked him up a long time ago.

The question now is who do they shop him to? I wonder what the offer was?

Interesting stat: Ranks #4 in the NBA in Steals Per Turnover (http://www.nba.com/statistics/player/Steals.jsp?league=00&season=22006&conf=OVERALL&position=0&splitType=9&qualified=Y&yearsExp=-1&sortOrder=6)(0.93)

Except for FG% & 3pt%, all his other stats are on the rise.

The question now is who do they shop him to? I wonder what the offer was?

He will probably elect to go play in Greece as was stated before. Sadly, the Bucks think they are hurting him by forcing him out of the NBA. The problem is, he enjoys playing overseas and will probably get a great deal.

c'mon man, you know they did that just to spite him. If they really wanted to keep him, they would have locked him up a long time ago.

The Bucks have the option of trading the guy now. They could even trade him to the Heat if they wanted to. At least now they have a chance of getting something in return.

I am just happy with the move in the same way Dre talked about. It keeps the Miami Heat from getting stronger.

Agent Mark Bartelstein said that Bell was absorbing what had happened and "getting his thoughts together."

"He's going to get himself prepared to have a great year with the Bucks and play his heart out, the only way he knows how to play," Bartelstein said.

"I think the [Bucks] spoke loudly today about how important Charlie is to their team," Bartelstein said. "They're in a position to be really good for a long time to come."

Not sure how Charlie feels about all this, but his agent doesn't seem to be too bitter.

ESPN - Bucks match offer sheet for Bell despite his wishes - NBA (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3029278)

If I'm the Bucks, maybe I match the offer and then trade Bell. At least you get something in return. You also get the last laugh on Bell.

There is no other option, but to go this route. A deal has, in all likelyhood, been cut.

Regardless of where he ends up, somebody will get a serious deal. $18.5 mil over five years averages $3.7 per year.

Based on sprocket points and last year's performance he should be making somewhere around six million going forward.

Maybe Bell saying that he doesn't want to play for Milwaukee was just a ploy to get someone to offer him a contract that Milwaukee could possibly match. Otherwise, he'd be in a situation like Varejao and Pavlovich where no other team is going to make an offer knowing that Cavs will match.

Maybe Bell saying that he doesn't want to play for Milwaukee was just a ploy to get someone to offer him a contract that Milwaukee could possibly match. Otherwise, he'd be in a situation like Varejao and Pavlovich where no other team is going to make an offer knowing that Cavs will match.

So you are saying that maybe he and the Bucks put it to ole Riles. If that is the case Riles must be slipping.

:hoops:

So you are saying that maybe he and the Bucks put it to ole Riles. If that is the case Riles must be slipping.

:hoops:

Nah, man, he may've been trying just to create the impression that Milwaukee wouldn't match. He wanted to get singed and that's the bottom line. Again, these are just some thoughts, nothing more.