LOS ANGELES, Dec. 14 -- The Los Angeles Clippers signed Richie Frahm, a free-agent guard who was released by the Phoenix Suns during the preseason, on Friday.

The move follows the release Thursday of veteran forward Ruben Patterson, whose one-year contract would have become fully guaranteed Saturday.

"We had a guarantee day coming up under contract for Ruben and we just felt we needed the flexibility -- in case one of our point guards went down -- that we would be able to bring somebody in," Coach Mike Dunleavy said.

Dunleavy added that the moves were also intended to create more playing time for rookie Al Thornton.

Frahm, a 30-year-old 3-point specialist, has averaged 3.5 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.6 assists in 130 career games with Houston, Minnesota, Portland and Seattle. He played for Italy's Benetton Treviso in 2006-07 after averaging 3.4 points in 32 games for Minnesota and Houston the previous season.

The Clippers' backcourt has been shorthanded this season. Point guard Shaun Livingston has been out since Feb. after dislocating his left knee cap. The third-year pro is expected to return in Feb.

Sam Cassell has been out since Nov. 26 with a strained left calf, with Brevin Knight and Dan Dickau picking up the slack. Cassell had been averaging 13.1 points and 4.2 assists per game. In his stead, Knight has averaged 7.2 points and 5.7 assists while Dickau has added 6.8 points and 4.7 assists. Cassell is expected to return Sunday, when the Clippers face the Lakers.

Frahm, a 6-foot-5, 202-pounder, was undrafted after averaging 12.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists in four seasons at Gonzaga. He was a college teammate of Dickau during the 1999-2000 season. The Associated Press contributed to this report.