In limbo, Raja Bell to undergo physical week before Utah Jazz camp begins

Veteran Jazz guard Raja Bell told a Miami-area radio station Friday he'll undergo a physical Monday in Salt Lake City.

Utah has yet to resolve a buyout with Bell, who is not expected to play for the Jazz during the 2012-13 season.

During the radio interview, Bell said a buyout agreement was reached early last summer. Bell said the Jazz never officially presented it to him, though, and have been unclear about their intentions for him.

"I'm really in a limbo situation right now," said Bell, according to the Sun-Sentinel.

Bell was unavailable for comment Saturday.

Jazz General Manager Dennis Lindsey declined comment when asked about Bell's future with the team.

Bell, 36, started 102 games for Utah the last two seasons and was the team's primary free-agent acquisition in 2010. He didn't play for the Jazz after March 17, though, and never got off the bench during a first-round playoff defeat to San Antonio, despite being healthy.

Bell often clashed with Utah coach Tyrone Corbin last season. A heated dispute March 9 cemented the break between the two.

Bell said at the end of the 2011-12 season he didn't want to play for the Jazz anymore, and Utah Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin O'Connor recently acknowledged Bell has no interest in continuing his career in Salt Lake City.

A buyout has been on the table since at least July, and Bell's separation from the Jazz has long been expected. But while the chances of him attending camp are slim, at best, it's recently become a remote possibility, since just eight days remain before Jazz media day and there's been no recent progress between the sides.

Bell is in the final year of his contract with Utah and is set to make $3.5 million this season. The amount of the buyout has prevented the Jazz from removing Bell from the roster, and Utah has thus far been unable to trade him.

"As much as I control what I do, I don't," Bell said during the radio interview. "The Jazz hold my rights, they are the owners of the contract. And so if they tell me I'm coming back to camp, then I have to go back to camp.

"On Monday, when I go out and have my physical, I'm really hoping they'll say to me, 'Look, we either have a trade worked out for you or we're going to waive you,' or something that will allow me to move on."

Sun-Sentinel: http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2012-09-21/sports/sfl-miami-heat-raja-bell-s092112_1_heat-opportunity-buyout-heat-option

Brian T. Smith

Twitter: @tribjazz