Sonics
Notebook: Ridnour out with hip injury

By Percy Allen
Seattle Times staff reporter

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Luke Ridnour must be thinking that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

The Sonics' point guard altered his appearance and bolstered his game after a roller-coaster rookie season, but for a second straight year he'll have to rehabilitate an injury that prematurely ended his summer-league stint and threatens to undo offseason progress.

Ridnour told Sonics officials that he initially injured his right hip flexor during last week's three-day camp.

He aggravated the injury Saturday as Seattle played its second game in the Rocky Mountain Revue. After playing 10 minutes Sunday, Ridnour walked off the court at Salt Lake Community College for the final time.

An evaluation by a physician at the tournament Sunday night and by Sonics Dr. Richard Zorn yesterday in Seattle confirmed that Ridnour suffered a strained right hip flexor.

Ridnour will undergo treatment with ice, ultrasound stimulation and rest.

General manager Rick Sund categorized the injury as "a minor setback."

"He's OK," Sund said. "He's not going to do much the rest of the summer. In a week or so, he'll be up and about. But we felt it would be better for him not to continue."

Last year, Ridnour missed a summer-league tournament in Long Beach, Calif., and five exhibition games while recovering from an abdominal strain suffered during a predraft workout. He underwent surgery Aug. 6.

The slow start hindered his development. Ridnour averaged 5.5 points and 2.4 assists while appearing in 69 games and making six starts last season.
 
After adding about 10 pounds of muscle and becoming a more consistent long-range shooter, Ridnour had hoped a strong outing this summer would help his chances of claiming the vacant starting point-guard position.

"Fortunately, we got a chance to see Luke play 1,000 minutes last year, and, at the end of the season, we saw him in there with the starters," Sund said. "As I told him a few weeks ago, the summer league is not about you proving that you belong in the NBA. He's already proved that."

Notes

• The Sonics added guard Silas Mills and swingman Michel Morandais to its summer-league roster.

• Nick Collison needed four stitches to close a cut above his left eye Sunday night. The injury occurred in the first quarter of an 85-63 defeat to the expansion Charlotte Bobcats. Collison leads the Sonics with a 6.7 rebounding average, and his 13.3 points per game rank second behind forward Damien Wilkins' 16.3.

• Rookie center Robert Swift is averaging 5.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 24.3 minutes. He has blocked two shots and converted 6 of 14 field goals and 4 of 7 free throws.

• The Sonics, 0-3 at the Revue, will face Portland (1-2) this afternoon. Tomorrow's 3 p.m. game against Phoenix (1-2) will be broadcast on NBA-TV.

Percy Allen: 206-464-2278 or pallen@seattletimes.com