Bucks reportedly match offer sheet to G Bell

Sep 20, 2007 - 7:26 PM FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida (Ticker) -- The Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday matched the Miami Heat's five-year, $18.3 million offer sheet to guard Charlie Bell, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported on its web site.

The Heat made the offer to Bell, who had expressed an interest in relocating to South Florida on Monday. Milwaukee had seven days to match the offer.

"He was impressed and infatuated with everything Miami presented to him, and was appreciative of Miami presenting him the offer sheet" agent Mark Bartelstein told the newspaper. "But the Bucks all along, had the right to match."

Earlier this summer, the Bucks also retained free agent point guard Mo Williams by outbidding the Heat by $20 million.

Bell, 28, averaged a career-high 13.5 points while playing in all 82 games last season.