Blazers add Ronnie Price

General manager Neil Olshey added veteran point guard Ronnie Price to the Trail Blazers' roster Wednesday, providing depth and experience in the team's back court. 

Rookie Damian Lillard is expected to be the Blazers' starting point guard and second-year player Nolan Smith the backup, so Olshey has been searching for a mentor to help accelerate the young players' learning curves. He decided Price, a 6-foot-2, seven-season veteran, was the ideal fit.

Price, 29, played for the Sacramento Kings and Utah Jazz before signing with the Phoenix Suns in 2011-12 and holds career averages of 3.6 points, 1.4 assists and 1.1 rebounds per game. Price mostly has come off the bench in his career, serving as a backup to All-Star point guards Deron Williams and Steve Nash.