Utah Jazz: Team welcomes Raja Bell back

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Jazz didn't hang up a "Welcome back!" sign for the returning Raja Bell, but the organization made it clear Monday that it's glad to have the veteran shooting guard in the fold again.

Utah embraced Bell with open arms and plenty of verbal pleasantries at a news conference that followed his requisite physical and included him signing a three-year, $10 million contract.

Jazz owner Gail Miller, team president Randy Rigby and general manager Kevin O'Connor sat on the dais with Bell, whom Utah opted to sign instead of matching Portland's pricey offer sheet for Wesley Matthews.

"Well, Raja, I just want to say short and sweetly, 'Very sincerely, we're glad you're back,' " Miller said. "It's much nicer having you on this side of the fence than the other side."

Bell, who played in Utah from 2003-05 before spending time in Phoenix, Charlotte and Golden State, seemed equally thrilled to be back in Salt Lake City. Bell, now a father of two, brought his wife, Cindi, to the reintroduction and signing event and said Utah has "always had a pretty special place in our heart."

"I'm really excited to be back," Bell said. "When free agency started, there was a very short list of places that I really wanted to play and thought I could fit and help, and this was right there at the top of the list. ...

"For me, selfishly, I thought it was a really good fit."

So, too, do Jazz brass, who convinced Bell to try Utah Part Two instead of pursuing potential opportunities with power-packed teams like Miami, the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago.

O'Connor lauded Bell for being "as competitive and as caring about wins and losses as our head coach (Jerry Sloan) is." The Jazz GM also claimed Bell fills two immediate Jazz needs: outside shooting and perimeter defense. Bell is not only a career 41.1 percent 3-point shooter, but he's also twice been named to the NBA's All-Defensive Team, including a first team honor in 2006-07.

"We feel like we got two-in-one," O'Connor said. "And we're greatly relieved, to be honest with you, to fill that position and fill it with the guy that we've got in Raja."

Kobe Bryant might thank the Jazz for saving him some cash.

Bell had been invited to do dinner with the Lakers superstar and talk about perhaps teaming up with his former nemesis last Wednesday night. However, plans changed abruptly about an hour before suppertime when his agent called to tell him about "a great deal in Utah."

That convinced Bell to turn down dinner and a free ride in Bryant's personal helicopter.