Jun 30, 2015
Veteran Ridnour lands with Raptors, for now
Toronto’s newest player has been traded four times in the span of five days
TORONTO - Luke Ridnour has had a busy week.
Traded four times in the span of five days, the Toronto Raptors became the latest team to acquire the veteran point guard's services on Tuesday, although he may not want to unpack just yet.
Ridnour, 34, is unlikely to suit up for the Raptors next season. With Masai Ujiri and his team poised to be active in the trade and free agent markets this summer, the journeyman guard gives Toronto some added flexibility going into the off-season.
The $2.75 million remaining on Ridnour’s contact is non-guaranteed, meaning if the Raptors - or whichever team ends up with his rights - can waive him prior to the July 10 deadline and avoid paying his salary.
Toronto picked Ridnour up from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for the draft rights to forward Tomislav Zubcic - a second-rounder that Bryan Colangelo selected back in 2012 as a favour - and the trade exception acquired from the Utah Jazz in last summer's Steve Novak trade.
For now, the Raptors absorb Ridnour's salary but his contract can be used as a valuable trade chip, one that four other teams have already taken advantage of this off-season. A year ago, Ujiri moved John Salmons's non-guaranteed deal, along with a second-round pick, to the Atlanta Hawks for guard Lou Williams - last season's Sixth Man winner - and centre Lucas Nogueira.
The Raptors could try to package Ridnour in a bigger trade prior to July 10. Failing that, he is expected to be waived, freeing up that money as the team pursues a big fish in free agency.
Toronto is one of seven clubs scheduled to meet with free agent forward and four-time all-star LaMarcus Aldridge in Los Angeles later this week, according to multiple reports. Made possible by last week's trade of Greivis Vasquez - clearing over $6 million from their payroll - and aided by Ridnour's expendable contact, the Raptors can offer Aldridge the maximum contract he'll command.
Although teams are able to meet and negotiate with free agents on July 1, they're prohibited from making signings official until the moratorium period comes to a close and the salary cap for next season is set on July 9.
Ridnour played 47 games for the Orlando Magic last season, his 12th in the NBA. If the Raptors do decide to hold onto him, however unlikely, he would address a need with Vasquez - Kyle Lowry's former understudy - now in Milwaukee and rookie point guard Delon Wright learning the ropes.
Dwane Casey was an assistant coach in Seattle when Ridnour came into the league with the SuperSonics back in 2003 and remains fond of the veteran guard.