Zach Randolph Injury: Grizzles' Season Officially Sunk With Z-Bo Out For 8 Weeks

The Memphis Grizzles' season is already finished.

A 2-3 start isn’t the problem, it’s Zach Randolph.

The undisputed best player on the squad stood nearby as OJ Mayo had a shot blocked by the Chicago Bulls on Sunday, with Mayo proceeding to crash right into Z-Bo’s knee. Randolph fell into a heap and left the game immediately.

The Commercial Appeal is reporting that Randolph has a slight tear in his MCL in his right knee and will be missing up to eight weeks. Although surgery is not required, his knee will be re-evaluated by doctors in two weeks.

This is the worst-case scenario for Memphis. Randolph was averaging 14.8 points and 7.5 rebounds a year after putting up 20 and 12. He has been one of the most consistent player’s in the league over the last year, and the young Grizzles are really going to miss him.

Now, all of the pressure falls on Marc Gasol, who better be ready for plenty of double teams that will be coming his way. Is he up to the challenge? Can he pass efficiently out of a double team? Can he put the team on his back offensively?

The Grizzles aren’t sure either, so they decided to make a quick trade. The Associated Press is reporting that the 76ers are sending forward/center Marreese Speights to Memphis, the Grizzles are shipping Xavier Henry to New Orleans and the Grizz and Hornets will both send a second-round draft pick to Philadelphia.

This is a panic move. Henry has loads of potential, and Speights has shown little in three-plus seasons. He scored a career low 5.4 points last season and hasn’t appeared in a single game in the 2011-2012 season. He is supposed to be a strong offensive player, but the big man is shooting under 50 percent for his career. He also is one of the worst defenders in the post in the entire NBA.

It’s a Grand Canyon-sized downgrade for the Grizzles, and it’s going to be enough to cripple Memphis in a season so crammed with games.

Eight weeks from now, the Grizzles will have played 36 games and the season will already be into the second half.

After shocking the Spurs as the eighth seed last year and taking the Thunder to seven games, the expectations were sky high with the return of Rudy Gay. Instead, it looks like the Grizz will return to their typical placement at the bottom of the Southwest division in the Western Conference.