SALT LAKE CITY - The money was nice, Raja Bell admits as much. But there was a little more to it than that.
The free agent guard, who last month signed a three-year deal with the Jazz reportedly worth $10 million, said he was intrigued by the idea of playing alongside Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles or LeBron James in Miami. However, when it came right down to it, the 33-year-old liked the idea of returning to the Jazz where he could have more ownership in the team's future.
"I think ultimately the opportunity was here for me to not so much be along for the ride," Bell said, referring his decision to play in Utah rather than in L.A. or Miami.
For Bell, who will be 34 when the 2010-11 season begins, it all boiled down to his role on the team.
Signing a short-term deal with the Heat or the Lakers would have been seen a virtual guarantee of playing in the NBA finals. But it likely also would have meant a lesser role on the team.
Having already spent two seasons in Utah from 2003-05, Bell liked the idea of coming back to play for coach Jerry Sloan, in a familiar system and on a team that expects to win 50 or more games next season.
Plus, he'd have a much more important role on the team.
"I really, really in my heart felt (the Lakers and Heat) were made up already and they were just trying to add people as insurance policies," Bell said. "I don't want to be an insurance policy."
Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor seemed pleased to hear Bell make that statement. After all, he and the team's other decision-makers had targeted him as someone who could replace Kyle Korver as an outside shooter, plus provide valuable locker room leadership.
"He had a lot of suitors," O'Connor said of Bell. "We're really happy to have somebody back that's as competitive and as caring about wins as loses as our coach is."
Even more important, Bell is well known for his tenacious perimeter defense, something the Jazz have lacked in recent years.
In order to land Bell, the Jazz had to part company with restricted free agent guard Wesley Matthews, who had been signed to a pricey, long-term offer sheet by the Portland Trial Blazers.
"Not matching (Portland's offer) had to do with Raja Bell," O'Connor said.
So now the Jazz look ahead to training camp in a few months and beyond that a new season with new faces.
Korver, Matthews and Carlos Boozer are gone. In their place will be Bell and former Minnesota big man Al Jefferson.
Bell, who played just six games last season because of a wrist injury, said he is rested, refreshed and raring to start his new life with his old team.
At a press conference last month he said he wanted to make an "investment" in a team's future.
He felt he wasn't going to have that with a stocked team.
"I can sleep at night knowing that I gave 110 percent, not (feeling) that I watched an entire ballgame (from the bench)," he said.
Of course there is also the question of money.
Teams like the Heat and Lakers were offering a golden opportunity to play for a title, but they weren't offering the same financial stability the Jazz were.
"For me, it doesn't hurt that I got a good deal here," Bell said. "But I think at the end of the day (the extra money and a chance to play on a playoff team) together made it a no-brainer.
"And, obviously, being in a place where I was comfortable with the people and the organization was the icing on the cake."
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