Bell talks Buyout, Heat

Posted by Unknown on Saturday, September 22, 2012 with 7 comments
Earlier in the off-season, The Real NBA brought to you the news that the Utah Jazz and veteran guard Raja Bell, 36, were close to agreeing on a buyout that would have allowed Bell to become a free agent but as of yet the buyout hasn't happened and Bell is still a member of the Jazz.  During a radio interview yesterday, Bell gave fans an update to his situation and spoke at length about the Miami Heat.

"They would be on the top of my list, for sure......Again, hometown crowd, my kids are in elementary school here. It'd be great for me to get a chance to play here in Miami where I grew up and I know a lot of people, and be a part of this history that they're going to make for the city. But that's not always just up to me.....Right now, I'm taking a physical on Monday out in Salt Lake.....We had a buyout in place early in the summer. The Jazz never officially presented it to me. But they never really officially told me I was coming back there, either. So I'm really in a limbo situation right now."

"The Heat, they've done a great job over the last few years," he said. "They've really stacked their roster with some quality players, so I don't know that there's a spot there for me. Obviously, it's my hometown team, so given the opportunity, I'd like to be a part of what they're doing......But I understand that they've made strides to improve and really feel like they've got a good nucleus. So if it's not here, then hopefully I'll get a chance to go somewhere else and finish my career."

"At my age and what I've got in my tank, I feel like a limited role is best," he said. "I don't really like playing 35 minutes a night anymore......As much as I control what I do, I don't," Bell said. "The Jazz hold my rights, they are the owners of the contract. And so if they tell me I'm coming back to camp, then I have to go back to camp.....On Monday, when I go out and have my physical, I'm really hoping they'll say to me, 'Look, we either have a trade worked out for you or we're going to waive you,' or something that will allow me to move on."