| The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee Bucks general manager John Hammond was searching for a true point guard, someone to run the team's offense and fit in nicely with wing players Michael Redd and Richard Jefferson. SAVE MONEY ON TRAVEL DEALS Hammond believes he found that point man on Wednesday when the Bucks acquired 27-year-old Luke Ridnour from Oklahoma City as part of a six-player, three-team deal. The major piece given up by Milwaukee was point guard Mo Williams, who went to Cleveland to provide some needed assistance for Cavaliers star LeBron James, and the Bucks also sent small forward Desmond Mason to Oklahoma City, the former Seattle SuperSonics franchise. Veteran forward Joe Smith moved from Cleveland to Oklahoma City in the deal, and the Bucks acquired Damon Jones from the Cavaliers and small forward Adrian Griffin from Oklahoma City. Both Jones and Griffin have expiring contracts. "He's the kind of guy people like to play with", Hammond said of Ridnour, who was the 14th overall pick of the Sonics in the 2003 draft. "When you classify him, there's no discussion. He's a point guard." It's clear that Hammond has not been bashful about overhauling a Bucks roster that struggled to win 26 games last season. Already gone are Bobby Simmons and Yi Jianlian, who went to New Jersey in the trade for Jefferson, and now departing are Williams and Mason, both of whom were starters for most of the 2007-'08 season. Ridnour was a regular for three seasons in a Seattle lineup that featured Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. The former Oregon star struggled last season and averaged just 6.4 points and 4.0 assists in 61 games after losing his starting job. But Hammond said he was confident Ridnour could handle the starting role with the Bucks. "Obviously, you don't trade a starting point guard and not acquire a piece capable of filling that position", Hammond said. "When you evaluate our team here, it's not to say Michael Redd and Richard Jefferson are Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. But if you put Luke Ridnour in our lineup and have Michael Redd on one wing and Richard Jefferson on the other wing, it puts him in a position to be as successful as he was in the past." The Bucks also picked up $30 million of long-term savings in the deal. Williams has five years and $43 million left on his contract, while Ridnour has two years and $13 million left, at $6.5 million each year. Hammond has been able to deal two players who had hefty long-term contracts in Williams and Bobby Simmons (two years and $20.4 million remaining), although the Bucks absorbed some salary in trading for Jefferson (three years and $42.4 million). "I think from a personnel standpoint we've improved our roster", Hammond said. "We're a better team than we were three months ago. The second part of it is we did have some financial issues that needed to be addressed." Williams averaged 17.2 points and 6.3 assists in 66 games with the Bucks last season, but he and Redd did not seem compatible in the backcourt. Williams struggled with a right thumb injury and underwent surgery after the season, but Hammond said he was evaluated by the Cavaliers and "the hand is completely clear." The Cavaliers have been searching for a scoring complement to James, and they are hoping Williams will be a decent alternative when opponents double- and triple-team James at the end of games. "When he (James) gives it up, they've got someone who can make a shot", Hammond said. "It's a perfect fit for Mo." Now the Bucks will feature a starting lineup with Redd and Ridnour in the backcourt, Jefferson and Charlie Villanueva at forward and 7-footer Andrew Bogut at center. "He's a great ball handler, excellent in the open floor", Hammond said of the 6-foot-2, 175-pound Ridnour, who will be entering his sixth pro season. "He's willing to give the ball up and willing to pass ahead in fast breaks. "He's excellent in the two-man game, which is very important in the NBA. He has the ability to get into the paint on dribble penetration." Mason, who starred at Oklahoma State and also played two pro seasons in Oklahoma City, when the New Orleans Hornets played there following Hurricane Katrina, will be going back to his original NBA franchise. He was drafted by the Sonics in 2000 before coming to Milwaukee the first time in the Allen trade in 2003. "We hope the trade is good for all players, and we hope that is true for Desmond. He gets to go to Oklahoma City, where he's going to be appreciated, and we hope the playing time will be there for him, " Hammond said. Jones and Griffin were included to help make salaries match in the deal. Jones, who played for the Bucks during the 2003-'04 season, has $4.6 million left on an expiring deal. Griffin, who played for Bucks coach Scott Skiles in Chicago, has $1.7 million left on another expiring contract. Hammond also said the Bucks have signed center Francisco Elson, the former San Antonio Spurs player. Elson will be paid around $3 million on a two-year deal.
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