NBA Rumors: Memphis Grizzlies Need More Than Marreese Speights to Save Them

The Memphis Grizzlies are having a disappointing start to their 2011-12 campaign and a large reason for that is injury and rust.

However, their current personnel problem cannot be ignored and the club will need to make a move to fix it sooner rather than later.

Their one glaring flaw?

There is a serious lack of talent in Memphis’ frontcourt if Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph are on the bench or injured.

The team is looking to address that shortcoming by adding Marreese Speights.

Speights is a power forward/center in the fourth year of his career, who has fallen out of favor with the Philadelphia 76ers, according to the staff of Memphis Commercial Appeal.

They are in a rush to add Speights or another body soon, after Randolph bruised his right knee in a 40-point loss to the Chicago Bulls on Sunday and sat out against the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday.

Dante Cunningham started in Z-Bo’s place, but only logged seven points and four rebounds in 19 minutes of play.

If the Grizzlies can add Speights, they will be off to a good start. However, the team needs to find at least one more big to give them the depth they will need for a playoff run at the end of the season.

Memphis was projected by many to be a serious contender in the West with their youth having another year of experience under their belt. They knocked the No. 1 seeded Spurs out in Round 1 and pushed the Thunder to seven games last season in the playoffs.

Anything less than another deep run would be a disappointment, so the Grizzlies must add Speights and continue to scan free agency and work the phones for a second backup big to complete their roster.