The Bucks sent Williams, one of the top scoring point guards in the league, to the Cavaliers and Anthony Mason to the team formerly known as the Seattle SuperSonics in the six-player deal. Joining Ridnour, who played last year for Seattle, as new Bucks are two guys in the final year of their contracts -- Damon Jones and Adrian Griffin.

There was other cap-satisfying body-shuffling, but make no mistake about it: this was a Williams-for-Ridnour deal for the Bucks. Take the names away and it was a scoring-for-assists swap.

On the surface, it seems like a wise move for the Bucks, who are expecting newcomer Richard Jefferson to replace Williams' scoring next season. But the question is: which Ridnour are the Bucks getting?

The former collegiate star appeared on his way to upper-division NBA status when he averaged seven assists a game for Seattle during the 2005-06 season. But that number dropped to 5.2 a year later, and last season he couldn't even hold a starting spot on one of the league's worst teams, averaging just four assists per outing.

In fact, maybe the NBA has figured out why Ridnour is a pass-first point guard. It's because he can't shoot. His career-best percentage in five seasons is 43.3, with no second season higher than 41.8. He slumped to an awful 39.9 percent last year.

The move also serves as a cost-cutter. Williams was due $43 million over the next five seasons. Ridnour is signed for just two more seasons at a total of $13 million.