"The Utah Jazz returned Tuesday to a place some grudge-holding fans might consider the scene of the crime.

The place: Phoenix.

The perpetrator: Suns management.

The victim: Utah Jazz.

The crime: Stealing Raja Bell, a Utah fan favorite because of his scrappiness and steady shooting, on the first millisecond of free agency in July 2005.

This preseason game was Bell's first time he has returned to the Valley of the Sun since he rejoined the Jazz this past summer.

If you're wondering, there is no crime-scene tape surrounding the arena. There was, however a loud, warm reception when he entered the game off the bench.

"It's always fun to kind of revisit your old stomping grounds," Bell said, smiling.

From that, it's evident Bell has a different reaction to his parting than Jazz fans. After establishing himself as a viable NBA shooting guard in Utah, he received a take-it-or-leave-it offer he simply couldn't refuse from the Suns.

And Bell thrived as a Phoenix starter, averaging about 14 points while tormenting opponents defensively for three-plus seasons until being traded to Charlotte in 2008.

"People always say it's a business," Bell said moments before his US Airways Center reunion, "but we're all humans and we get attached to places where you create good memories and you have good times."

As far as the 11-year veteran is concerned, two locales are not like the others in that regard. No offense to Philadelphia, Dallas, Charlotte, Golden State and Yakima (where he started his pro career in the CBA in 1999 after going undrafted out of Florida International)."