Utah Jazz notebook: Extra mileage on Raja Bell not a big issue

SALT LAKE CITY — Even though he'll be 34 years old when next season begins, and 36 at the start of the last season in his new three-year deal with the Jazz, Kevin O'Connor has no concerns about Raja Bell's age.

The fact Jazz coach Jerry Sloan "really does a great job of monitoring minutes," O'Connor added, should ease any concerns.

By way of example, the Jazz general manager mentioned Bruce Bowen, the longtime San Antonio Spurs defensive specialist who played until he was 38.

He has no worries, either, that a wrist tendon tear prompting December surgery limited Bell to just six games with Charlotte and Golden State last season.

"I actually think it's better — less minutes on the legs," O'Connor said. "He keeps himself in terrific shape, and it wasn't a leg injury that he had. It was a hand. That can happen to anybody."

Bell, who previously played in Utah from 2003-05, reached agreement Wednesday on a three-year contract worth nearly $10 million.

He still must pass a physical exam to make the deal — for which the Jazz used part of the midlevel exception money, since they're over the NBA's team payroll salary cap — official.

Bell isn't expected to complete the physical until next week. If all's good, he should be reintroduced in Utah shortly after.

But O'Connor on Thursday lauded the acquisition as "a key piece" who "can guard (an opponent's) best perimeter player and wants to."

O'Connor said he was practically "begging" Bell — who also was weighing an offer from Chicago and being courted by the Los Angeles Lakers — to return.

"But as we talked about it, I think he saw an opportunity. He knows who we are, and I think that's the great thing about it," O'Connor said. "You know, he wanted to play for (Coach) Jerry (Sloan) again. He's been here before. We know he's a competitor, and he and Coach have a terrific relationship."

Putting a third year on the deal apparently did the trick, giving Utah a defensive presence who also can spread the floor with his shooting and who knows his way around the Jazz system.

"I think Raja knows what '11 C' is. You know, he ran it for a couple years," O'Connor said. "I think he knows how to defend when we blitz on the screen-and-roll."

MATTHEWS SURPRISED: Matthews was surprised to learn that, as long as Bell passes his physical, the Jazz plan to let him go to Portland.