"A familiar face is joining Utah's freshest.

One day after trading for Minnesota big man Al Jefferson, the Jazz agreed to contract terms with free agent and ex-Jazz starting shooting guard Raja Bell on Wednesday night.

"Raja is thrilled to be back in SLC," Bell's agent, Herb Rudoy, said via e-mail. "He has nothing but great memories of the years he spent with the Jazz.

"Before free agency began, I asked Raja to give me a short list of teams and the Jazz were on it. He really wants to play for (coach) Jerry Sloan again!"

Bell — who spurned attention from Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers and a reported offer from Chicago — is coming off recent wrist surgery that curtailed his 2009-10 season. His signing is contingent on passing a physical exam.

But the deal means Utah won't match the five-year, frontloaded $32.5 million offer sheet starting shooting guard Wesley Matthews signed last Saturday with Portland."