Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
At first glance, veteran point guard Luke Ridnour does not appear to bring much to the table for the Memphis Grizzlies. Some fans may even question why the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference needs to bother with a player who provided minimal production last season. However, the reality is the trade for Ridnour (4.0 points per game, 2.0 assists per game) brings value at the perfect time for Memphis.
At the very least, the 35-year-old will offer solid depth at the guard position next season. This becomes even more relevant if shooting guard Nick Calathes (3.3 points per game, 1.6 assists per game) departs the team in free agency. Even though I do not expect Calathes to sign elsewhere, especially if the Grizzlies are willing to have him back, and veteran backup guard Beno Udrih is still under contract next season, I still believe adding Ridnour to the mix will be beneficial.
The other reason Ridnour brings value to Memphis has to do with the NBA Draft on Thursday. If the Grizzlies feel they have a deal in the works, they can use Ridnour as a trade chip to ensure the deal goes through. Once again, Ridnour is not someone who is going to be a game-changer as far as production goes, but he is certainly a worthy asset to have on a squad as far as a veteran presence is concerned.
If Ridnour is waived prior to the July 10 deadline, the Grizzlies will not have to pay his $2.75 million contract for next season. Also, Memphis surrendered the rights to 2013 second-round draft pick Janis Timma, who currently plays in Europe, to acquire Ridnour from the Orlando Magic.
Michael Terrill is a Senior Writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @MichaelTerrill, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
