Obviously to my great suprise, the Milwaukee Bucks matched the Miami Heat's offer to guard Charlie Bell. Bell is set to make $18,500,000 over the next five seasons.
Bell is surely disapointed that he will not be able to play for the Heat in the coming seasons, but he certainly ended up making more money than he probably thought several months ago. At the end of the day, Bucks general manager Larry Harris felt that Bell was too important of a player for his team to lose. Bell will be the first guard off the bench next season, playing behind starters Mo Williams and Michael Redd. Royal Ivey and rookie Ramon Sessions will also compete for time. Swingman Desmond Mason will be used at both the shooting guard and small forward spots for Milwaukee.
With this signing, the Bucks now add Bell to the list with Redd, Williams, Gadzuric, and Jianlian to players who are locked up for the next several seasons. Additionally, both Andrew Bogut and Charlie Villanueva become restricted free agents after the 2008-09 season, and the Bucks will have to make a difficult decision as to whether to keep these players long term.
Desmond Mason is the only significant expiring contract on the Bucks payroll in the near future at $5,300,000. Between a lack of expiring contracts and upcoming long-term contracts for Villanueva and Bogut, the Bucks will have very little cap flexibility in the future seasons.
I personally would have let Bell go to the Heat and filled his spot with a group of young, inexpensive point guards, such as Dee Brown, Royal Ivey, or others. However, I certainly see from a talent perspective why Harris values Bell so greatly. Bell is a versatile guard who can defend two positions. Bell has improved each season in the league and has shown to be very durable.
With Williams, Bell, and Redd in the backcourt, Mason and Simmons on the wing, Villanueva at the power forward, and Bogut and Gadzuric at center the time is now for the Bucks to compete. Add in rookie Yi Jianlian as a wildcard, and the Bucks should be playoff contenders for the next several years. However, if Milwaukee is not able to have success immediately, it will most likely be the end of general manager Larry Harris and head coach Larry Krystkowiak's time with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Showing posts with label Dee Brown. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dee Brown. Show all posts
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Detailing the Bucks-Charlie Bell Saga
Last season, Charlie Bell made $744,000. Bell had his most productive NBA season, which saw him average 13.5 points per game, 3.0 assists per game, and 1.18 steals per game.
Currently, Bell is a restricted free agent. Therefore, his options are to:
a) Sign a long-term contract with the Milwaukee Bucks.
b) Accept the Bucks' one year qualifying offer of nearly $900,000 and then become an unrestricted free agent after the 2007-08 season.
c) Sign a long-term offer sheet with another team and see if the Bucks match the offer or not.
Here is a timeline of the events that took place:
-Mid August: Milwaukee offers Bell a three-year deal worth $9,000,000.
-Mid August: Bell’s camp reportedly demands the third year be a player option with larger annual payments (nearly $5,000,000 per season).
-August 31: Bell reportedly weighs offers from a handful of European teams.
-August 31: Bell's agent, Mark Bartelstein, reportedly says he is considering simply accepting the one year qualifying offer.
-September 7: Bell reportedly received an offer from Olympiacos for three years and $9,000,000.
-September 13: Bartelstein and Bell determined he would not accept the one year qualifying offer.
-September 17: Miami Heat sign Charlie Bell to a five year, $18,500,000 offer sheet. The Bucks have seven days to match, although Bartelstein and Bell have publicly tried to convince them not to match so he can play with Miami. It has been reported that Bell would make $3,000,000 in year one and an average of $3,600,000 per season throughout the agreement.
The length of the deal probably puts it out of question for Bucks general manager, Larry Harris, to match this agreement. The new deal will keep Bell under contract until he is thirty-three years old. Considering the money the Bucks have committed to Michael Redd and Mo Williams already in the backcourt, it would not make sense for Harris to bring back Bell. Earlier this sumer, the Heat made a strong run at Williams, offering him a five year, $31,000,000 contract. However, the Bucks offered a significantly larger deal at six years at $52,000,000.
Upon determining whether to matching Bell’s offer sheet, the Bucks will need to consider giving future extensions to Andrew Bogut and Charlie Villanueva, who become restricted free agents after the 2008-09 season. Therefore, Harris will most likely pass on Bell and look to fill the spot vacated with a minimum salary veteran-type player, such as Dee Brown or Troy Hudson.
Bell is a savvy veteran who shoots the ball well from long-range. He is a versatile guard who handles the ball well and plays smart. Bell is no more than an average athlete, but hestles and plays hard each night. He is able to free himself off the ball for an open jumper by using screens. He is not much of a threat to drive off the dribble, but still can score effectively.
For Miami, Bell will join Jason Williams, Dwyane Wade, Smush Parker, Chris Quinn, Daequan Cook, and Devin Green in a crowded backcourt. Bell’s addition most likely signals the end of Chris Quinn with the Heat. Additionally, the Heat will most likely look to again unload Jason Williams and his expiring contract of $8,937,500. Miami will be targeting a player who can defend at the wing and shoot the ball consistently from the outside. The addition of Bell also ends any chance that Gary Payton will return for another season. If the Heat are unable to trade Williams, they may even consider waiving him outright, in order to save money against the luxury tax.
Bell will fit in with the Heat nicely. Assuming Williams does not return to the Heat, Bell will compete for a starting job next to Wade. Bell provides a long-range shooting threat that the Heat badly need, especially after the loss of Jason Kapono to the Raptors. Last season, Belll was one of only twenty-one players who averaged more than 13 points per game, 3 assists per game, while shooting over 35 percent from behind the three point arc. His 35.2 percent mark from three point ranked thirty-third in the Eastern Conference last season.
After receiving the offer sheet from the Heat, it is probably in the best interest of all parties for the Bucks to decline matching the offer and let him move onto Miami. Although Milwaukee would have liked to have Bell return to be the first guard off the bench behind Williams and Redd, at this cost it is not worthwhile. I expect the Bucks to decline the offer sheet and turn their attention to free agent point guards. I would suggest signing a young player with upside such as Dee Brown or C.J. Miles.
Currently, Bell is a restricted free agent. Therefore, his options are to:
a) Sign a long-term contract with the Milwaukee Bucks.
b) Accept the Bucks' one year qualifying offer of nearly $900,000 and then become an unrestricted free agent after the 2007-08 season.
c) Sign a long-term offer sheet with another team and see if the Bucks match the offer or not.
Here is a timeline of the events that took place:
-Mid August: Milwaukee offers Bell a three-year deal worth $9,000,000.
-Mid August: Bell’s camp reportedly demands the third year be a player option with larger annual payments (nearly $5,000,000 per season).
-August 31: Bell reportedly weighs offers from a handful of European teams.
-August 31: Bell's agent, Mark Bartelstein, reportedly says he is considering simply accepting the one year qualifying offer.
-September 7: Bell reportedly received an offer from Olympiacos for three years and $9,000,000.
-September 13: Bartelstein and Bell determined he would not accept the one year qualifying offer.
-September 17: Miami Heat sign Charlie Bell to a five year, $18,500,000 offer sheet. The Bucks have seven days to match, although Bartelstein and Bell have publicly tried to convince them not to match so he can play with Miami. It has been reported that Bell would make $3,000,000 in year one and an average of $3,600,000 per season throughout the agreement.
The length of the deal probably puts it out of question for Bucks general manager, Larry Harris, to match this agreement. The new deal will keep Bell under contract until he is thirty-three years old. Considering the money the Bucks have committed to Michael Redd and Mo Williams already in the backcourt, it would not make sense for Harris to bring back Bell. Earlier this sumer, the Heat made a strong run at Williams, offering him a five year, $31,000,000 contract. However, the Bucks offered a significantly larger deal at six years at $52,000,000.
Upon determining whether to matching Bell’s offer sheet, the Bucks will need to consider giving future extensions to Andrew Bogut and Charlie Villanueva, who become restricted free agents after the 2008-09 season. Therefore, Harris will most likely pass on Bell and look to fill the spot vacated with a minimum salary veteran-type player, such as Dee Brown or Troy Hudson.
Bell is a savvy veteran who shoots the ball well from long-range. He is a versatile guard who handles the ball well and plays smart. Bell is no more than an average athlete, but hestles and plays hard each night. He is able to free himself off the ball for an open jumper by using screens. He is not much of a threat to drive off the dribble, but still can score effectively.
For Miami, Bell will join Jason Williams, Dwyane Wade, Smush Parker, Chris Quinn, Daequan Cook, and Devin Green in a crowded backcourt. Bell’s addition most likely signals the end of Chris Quinn with the Heat. Additionally, the Heat will most likely look to again unload Jason Williams and his expiring contract of $8,937,500. Miami will be targeting a player who can defend at the wing and shoot the ball consistently from the outside. The addition of Bell also ends any chance that Gary Payton will return for another season. If the Heat are unable to trade Williams, they may even consider waiving him outright, in order to save money against the luxury tax.
Bell will fit in with the Heat nicely. Assuming Williams does not return to the Heat, Bell will compete for a starting job next to Wade. Bell provides a long-range shooting threat that the Heat badly need, especially after the loss of Jason Kapono to the Raptors. Last season, Belll was one of only twenty-one players who averaged more than 13 points per game, 3 assists per game, while shooting over 35 percent from behind the three point arc. His 35.2 percent mark from three point ranked thirty-third in the Eastern Conference last season.
After receiving the offer sheet from the Heat, it is probably in the best interest of all parties for the Bucks to decline matching the offer and let him move onto Miami. Although Milwaukee would have liked to have Bell return to be the first guard off the bench behind Williams and Redd, at this cost it is not worthwhile. I expect the Bucks to decline the offer sheet and turn their attention to free agent point guards. I would suggest signing a young player with upside such as Dee Brown or C.J. Miles.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Utah's Return to the Top
Last season, Utah Jazz general manager, Kevin O’Connor, tasted success for the first time since his first year with the franchise. O’Connor joined the Jazz organization on August 26, 1999. After five straight seasons of not reaching forty wins and having not made the playoffs in three previous seasons, the Jazz found success. In 2006-07, Utah won 51 regular season games and made it to the Western Conference finals.
O’Connor’s fortunes changed with the 2005-06 draft. O’Connor had very limited success in the draft in his first several seasons, selecting mostly players who made no impact or insignificant impact with the franchise. Here’s a look at his first five drafts as the general manager of the Jazz:
2000-01 Deshawn Stevenson (23), Kaniel Dickens (50)
Comment: Stevenson was chose directly from high school and struggled to fit in with coach Jerry Sloan. Stevenson was productive in 2003-04 with the Jazz, but was not with the team the next season. Dickens never played for the Jazz.
Passed On: Primoz Brezec, Marco Jaric, Eddie House, Eduardo Najera, Michael Redd
2001-02 Raul Lopez (24), Jarron Collins (53)
Comment: Lopez was a disapppointment in two seasons with the Jazz. Collins provided nice value from a second round pick, but has never been a key contributor for Utah. The Jazz chose Lopez when a handful of better point guards were available.
Passed On: Gerald Wallace, Samuel Dalembert, Jamaal Tinsley, Tony Parker, Gilbert Arenas
2002-03 Curtis Borchardt (18); traded Ryan Humphrey (19) and Jamal Sampson (47) to Orlando
Comment: Borchardt had two very unproductive seasons with the Jazz.
Passed On: Tayshaun Prince, Nenad Krstic, John Salmons, Carlos Boozer
2003-04 Sasha Pavlovic (19), Mo Williams (47)
Comment: Although both players developed well later on in their careers, neither of these two players made an impact with the Jazz. Both players were traded relatively quickly after being drafted.
Passed On: Boris Diaw, Brian Cook, Carlos Delfino, Leandro Barbosa, Josh Howard
2004-05 Kris Humphries (14), Kirk Snyder (16); chose Pavel Podkolzin (21) then traded him to Dallas for their 2005-06 first round pick
Comment: Neither Humphries nor Snyder were impact players for Utah. Currently, neither play is on the team’s roster. However, the first round pick acquired from Dallas ended up paying off well for the Jazz.
Passed On: Al Jefferson, Josh Smith, Jameer Nelson, Delonte West, Kevin Martin
These five drafts provided no significant players for the Jazz and contributed to the low point for the organization. In the 2004-05, the Jazz went 26-56 and finished with the third worse record in the NBA.
Since then, however, the Jazz have turned things around. On the night of the 2005-06 draft, the Jazz traded their sixth pick and twenty-seventh pick to Portland for the third pick. With that pick, Utah drafted Deron Williams. In his rookie season, Williams finished fourth in the NBA among rookies in points per game, third in assists per game, and fourth in minutes per game. Although Utah only won forty-one games, it was obvious that they were making a step in the right direction. This year, Williams become one of the best point guards in the NBA and led Utah to playoff victories over Houston and Golden State before losing to the eventual champions, the San Antonio Spurs. In 2006-07, Williams finished amongst all NBA point guards, eight in points per game, second in assists per game, seventh in rebounds per game, and fifth in minutes per game.
In the second round, the Jazz selected C.J. Miles with the thirty-fourth pick and Robert Whaley with the fifty-first pick. Both players played in more than twenty games during their time with Utah, but neither is currently with the team.
In 2006-07, the Jazz selected three impact players: Ronnie Brewer at fourteen, Dee Brown at fourty-six, and Paul Millsap at fourty-seven. Brown saw time sporadically throughout last season, but will not be returning this year. Brewer and Millsap both figure into Utah’s long-term plans. In this past draft, the Jazz selected Morris Almond at twenty-five and Herbert Hill at fifty-five. Hill most likely will not be a relevant addition to Utah, but Almond could play a big factor almost immediately. Almond has an NBA-ready body and is an excellent perimeter shooter. He moves well without the ball and has shown an effective post game. Ball handling and quickness are the two biggest areas Almond needs to improve on.
With a core of Brewer, Millsap, Williams, and Almond added to the veterans the Jazz have on their roster, O'Connor has put together a team that should be able to contend consistently for the years to come. Mehmet Okur, Carlos Boozer, and Matt Harpring are important pieces to Utah's success, but without the Jazz's savvy drafting in the last three drafts, Utah would still be struggling to make the playoffs.
O’Connor’s fortunes changed with the 2005-06 draft. O’Connor had very limited success in the draft in his first several seasons, selecting mostly players who made no impact or insignificant impact with the franchise. Here’s a look at his first five drafts as the general manager of the Jazz:
2000-01 Deshawn Stevenson (23), Kaniel Dickens (50)
Comment: Stevenson was chose directly from high school and struggled to fit in with coach Jerry Sloan. Stevenson was productive in 2003-04 with the Jazz, but was not with the team the next season. Dickens never played for the Jazz.
Passed On: Primoz Brezec, Marco Jaric, Eddie House, Eduardo Najera, Michael Redd
2001-02 Raul Lopez (24), Jarron Collins (53)
Comment: Lopez was a disapppointment in two seasons with the Jazz. Collins provided nice value from a second round pick, but has never been a key contributor for Utah. The Jazz chose Lopez when a handful of better point guards were available.
Passed On: Gerald Wallace, Samuel Dalembert, Jamaal Tinsley, Tony Parker, Gilbert Arenas
2002-03 Curtis Borchardt (18); traded Ryan Humphrey (19) and Jamal Sampson (47) to Orlando
Comment: Borchardt had two very unproductive seasons with the Jazz.
Passed On: Tayshaun Prince, Nenad Krstic, John Salmons, Carlos Boozer
2003-04 Sasha Pavlovic (19), Mo Williams (47)
Comment: Although both players developed well later on in their careers, neither of these two players made an impact with the Jazz. Both players were traded relatively quickly after being drafted.
Passed On: Boris Diaw, Brian Cook, Carlos Delfino, Leandro Barbosa, Josh Howard
2004-05 Kris Humphries (14), Kirk Snyder (16); chose Pavel Podkolzin (21) then traded him to Dallas for their 2005-06 first round pick
Comment: Neither Humphries nor Snyder were impact players for Utah. Currently, neither play is on the team’s roster. However, the first round pick acquired from Dallas ended up paying off well for the Jazz.
Passed On: Al Jefferson, Josh Smith, Jameer Nelson, Delonte West, Kevin Martin
These five drafts provided no significant players for the Jazz and contributed to the low point for the organization. In the 2004-05, the Jazz went 26-56 and finished with the third worse record in the NBA.
Since then, however, the Jazz have turned things around. On the night of the 2005-06 draft, the Jazz traded their sixth pick and twenty-seventh pick to Portland for the third pick. With that pick, Utah drafted Deron Williams. In his rookie season, Williams finished fourth in the NBA among rookies in points per game, third in assists per game, and fourth in minutes per game. Although Utah only won forty-one games, it was obvious that they were making a step in the right direction. This year, Williams become one of the best point guards in the NBA and led Utah to playoff victories over Houston and Golden State before losing to the eventual champions, the San Antonio Spurs. In 2006-07, Williams finished amongst all NBA point guards, eight in points per game, second in assists per game, seventh in rebounds per game, and fifth in minutes per game.
In the second round, the Jazz selected C.J. Miles with the thirty-fourth pick and Robert Whaley with the fifty-first pick. Both players played in more than twenty games during their time with Utah, but neither is currently with the team.
In 2006-07, the Jazz selected three impact players: Ronnie Brewer at fourteen, Dee Brown at fourty-six, and Paul Millsap at fourty-seven. Brown saw time sporadically throughout last season, but will not be returning this year. Brewer and Millsap both figure into Utah’s long-term plans. In this past draft, the Jazz selected Morris Almond at twenty-five and Herbert Hill at fifty-five. Hill most likely will not be a relevant addition to Utah, but Almond could play a big factor almost immediately. Almond has an NBA-ready body and is an excellent perimeter shooter. He moves well without the ball and has shown an effective post game. Ball handling and quickness are the two biggest areas Almond needs to improve on.
With a core of Brewer, Millsap, Williams, and Almond added to the veterans the Jazz have on their roster, O'Connor has put together a team that should be able to contend consistently for the years to come. Mehmet Okur, Carlos Boozer, and Matt Harpring are important pieces to Utah's success, but without the Jazz's savvy drafting in the last three drafts, Utah would still be struggling to make the playoffs.
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