INQUIRER Sports

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, United States?Raja Bell is heading back to Salt Lake City after signing with his former NBA club, the Utah Jazz.

"For me, it's a no-brainer," the shooting guard said. "I was chomping at the bit to come back here and play. It doesn't hurt that I got a good deal."

Bell, 33, inked a three-year deal Monday worth some $10 million.

Bell was a favorite with Jazz fans and coach Jerry Sloan because of his tough-minded defense. After two fine seasons with the Jazz he departed in 2005 to take an offer from Phoenix.

Bell is a career 41 percent 3-point shooter who has averaged more than 10 points per game while playing for six different NBA teams.

He spent last season with Charlotte and Golden State, but played in just six games because of wrist surgery.

Bell said his left wrist has completely healed.

General manager Kevin O'Connor noted that Bell made a good business decision when he took a "lucrative" offer from Phoenix while the Jazz were in a rebuilding phase.

"Now he's made an even better decision," O'Connor said. "We're really happy to have somebody back as competitive and as caring about wins and losses as our head coach is, and they have a relationship that goes a lot deeper than most."