Persistence paid off for Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor.

Utah signed veteran guard Randy Foye on Monday night, capping a determined quest by O'Connor to add him to the Jazz's backcourt.

Foye, who spent last season in Los Angeles with the Clippers, became an unrestricted free agent on July 1. According to O'Connor, he talked to Foye's agent every "two or three days" since league rules permitted contract negotiations.

Foye ended up signing a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Jazz after being courted by a handful of teams, including the New York Knicks.

"He had his suitors," O'Connor said. "But we were on him all along. ... We just felt like Randy would be a good fit for our team, and we're happy to have him."

O'Connor's interest in Foye actually dates back to the 2006 NBA Draft, when Utah owned the No. 14 pick in the first round. Boston took Foye at No. 7, however, before trading him to Minnesota. The Jazz ended up drafting Ronnie Brewer with the 14th pick.

"He's versatile player — somebody who can play multiple positions," O'Connor said. "That's something that has always been attractive to us."

According to O'Connor, it took seven weeks to sign Foye because both sides "had to work through our progressions" in the ever-changing world of free agency.

"He felt we were a good fit for him," O'Connor said.

Foye averaged 11 points and 2.2 assists in 65 games for the Clippers during the abbreviated 2011-12 season. He made 48 starts.

Foye shot 39.8 percent from the field and 38.6 percent behind the 3-point line, helping the Clippers reach the second round of the Western Conference playoffs. He's averaged 11.6 points during his six-year NBA career. Foye, 28, played collegiately at Villanova.

The offseason addition of Foye, Mo Williams and former Atlanta Hawks small forward Marvin Williams will improve the Jazz's ability to score from the perimeter.

"That's something we thought we lacked," O'Connor said. "We got exposed a little bit in the playoffs."

Utah, the No. 8 seed in the West, was swept aside in the first round by San Antonio.

Kirilenko plans return

Former Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko plans to return to the NBA for the 2012-13 season, a league source informed The Salt Lake Tribune on Tuesday.

Kirilenko, 31, spent 10 seasons playing for Utah. He averaged 12.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2 rebounds in 681 games (478 starts).

Kirilenko didn't play in the NBA during 2011-12. He chose to return to his native country of Russia during the NBA lockout, playing for CSKA Moscow. Kirilenko is playing with Russia for the 2012 Olympics in London.

Reporter Brian T. Smith contributed to this story.