MINNEAPOLIS — Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace no longer has to force himself to forget the euphoria that came with last season in order to focus on the future.

Circumstances have taken care of that.

News that star forward Zach Randolph could miss two months with a torn MCL accelerated Wallace’s efforts to improve the Grizzlies’ frontcourt depth. So the Grizzlies acquired 6-10 power forward/center Marreese Speights from Philadelphia on Wednesday in a three-team trade that sent second-year guard Xavier Henry to New Orleans.

To complete the transaction, Memphis gave Philadelphia its 2012 second-round draft pick. New Orleans also sent a 2013 second-round pick to Philadelphia.

The Griz were reluctant to part with Henry, the 12th-overall pick in 2010, but they decided the move might keep the Grizzlies positioned to make another playoff run.

“In a perfect world we wouldn’t have wanted to (deal Henry),” Wallace said. “But we’re not in a perfect world. Our team last year showed we can handle an injury on the perimeter. Where we’re most vulnerable is at power forward and center. We’re down two key players and scorers.”

Randolph went down a couple of weeks after his backup, Darrell Arthur, was ruled out for the season with an Achilles injury. The Griz had been pursuing Speights since Arthur was hurt during training camp.

Griz brass began this season believing they needed more frontcourt depth with only Randolph, Arthur and center Marc Gasol under contract. The hope now is that Speights can use his athleticism, rebounding and scoring ability to help compensate for the Grizzlies’ sudden void in frontcourt scoring.

“He has a lot of talent,” Gasol said. “He has a soft touch and a nice little hook. He can play. He’s big, and I think he can help us.”

Speights is in his fourth season after the Sixers selected him out of Florida with the 16th pick in 2007. But Speights has never averaged more than 16.4 minutes in the NBA. He has not played this season.

“He’ll space the floor,” Griz forward Rudy Gay said. “He’s athletic but he limits his game because he shoots too many jumpers. He’s big and physical. He can score down low.”

Griz coach Lionel Hollins said he isn’t sure how he’ll use Speights. Whilethe big man is versatile, with the ability to play power forward and center, critics question Speights’ motivation.

Speights is expected to be in uniform Friday when the Griz play at Utah.

“Marreese is a guy that’s talented. He’s had some moments in the NBA,” Wallace said. “He fell out of the rotation in Philadelphia. But we’re hoping this can be a perfect marriage. We need him, and he needs us.”

The Griz took on more salary to acquire Speights, who will earn $2.7 million this season. He’ll be a restricted free agent this summer. Henry will make $2.1 million, and New Orleans must now decide whether to pick up his third-year rookie option by Jan. 25.

Henry has not played this season because of an ankle sprain. His rookie campaign was curtailed by knee soreness.

Memphis is sending Xavier Henry to New Orleans, along with two second-round picks to Philly, in exchange for big man Marreese Speights. Reports ESPN: “The Grizzlies were in search of added depth in the frontcourt even before star forward Zach Randolph suffered a bruised knee when teammate O.J. Mayo fell onto him in Sunday’s 40-point loss in Chicago. That’s because Memphis lost versatile forward Darrell Arthur, its most valued reserve, to a season-ending Achilles injury last month. Although Randolph’s injury was diagnosed only as a bone bruise, Memphis wants to move quickly in the wake of its 2-3 start. The Grizzlies have never faced higher expectations after upsetting top-seeded San Antonio in the first round of last season’s playoffs before losing to Oklahoma City in the second round in seven games. Randolph averaged 20.1 points and 12.2 rebounds last season and was averaging 19 points and nine rebounds before he was injured. Speights is in his fourth season with the 76ers, who selected him with the 16th overall pick in the 2007 draft but has never averaged more than 16.4 minutes per game in the NBA. Henry played in 38 games as a rookie last season in Memphis and has missed the start of this season with torn ligaments in his right ankle.”

The Sacramento Kings are struggling to open the 2011-12 NBA season. Sacramento lost again on Tuesday January 3 to fall to 2-4 on the season.

The team put together a solid first half before getting blown away in the second half and losing the game 113-96. Not even the return of DeMarcus Cousins helped in this game. Cousins came off the bench and played just 22 minutes. His poor shooting continued as he shot just one out of five from the field on his way to four points and eight rebounds.

The starting unit accounted for only 36 out of 96 points in the game. No NBA team will win a game when they get performances like that from their starting five. The starting unit only made 13 out of 35 shots for just 37% shooting in the game. Sacramento is a young team and needs to get more consistent play out of their stars like Tyreke Evans and Marcus Thornton.

The one bright spot is that this may have been a breakthrough game for rookie guard Jimmer Fredette. Fredette has struggled coming into this game and has not had an outstanding start to his rookie season. Fredette led the team in scoring and played the most minutes on the team in the loss to Memphis. Fredette made six out of 12 shots including four three pointers on his way to scoring a season high 17 points.

Sacramento also saw a good game off the bench from rookie point guard Isaiah Thomas. Thomas has played very well early on and has earned more playing time off the bench. Thomas finished with 15 points, five rebounds and three assists.

One of the biggest problems the team is having early in the season has been their lack of assisted baskets in games. This directly translates to the stagnant offense that fans are watching in games. The team is not moving the ball well and the offense is struggling because of it. No player on the team has had a game with more than five assists through six games this season.

Sacramento fans shouldn’t panic quite yet. Several of the teams losses have come against quality opponents so far this season. Sacramento needs to start playing better and more consistent basketball. Once they do, victories will come and the improvement will be evident.

Kyle Rapoza is a Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network and a lifelong fan of the Sacramento Kings. He started going to Kings games at age six and has attended hundreds of games since. Follow him on twitter @kyler11.

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Rudy Gay scored 23 points, Sam Young added 20 and the Memphis
Grizzlies beat the Sacramento Kings 113-96 on Tuesday night.

O.J. Mayo had 16 points, and Mike Conley _ returning from an
ankle injury _ and Marc Gasol scored 14 points each. Tony Allen
added 10 points. Gasol also had 15 rebounds as Memphis outrebounded
Sacramento 49-41. Tony Allen had 10 points.

With Memphis holding a double-digit lead for a bulk of the
second half, the Kings’ reserves got extended minutes.

Jimmer Fredette scored 17 points and fellow rookie Isaiah Thomas
had 15 to lead Sacramento as the Kings’ reserves got extended
minutes with Memphis leading by double digits for a bulk of the
second half.

J.J. Hickson was the only Sacramento starter to reach double
figures, scoring 12 points. Travis Outlaw added 11.

Memphis finished 55 percent from the field, led by Gasol at 7
for 10 and Gay at 10 for 16. The Kings shot 41 percent.

DeMarcus Cousins came off the bench, as expected, after missing
Sunday’s game against New Orleans when coach Paul Westphal told him
to stay away from the team. Cousins finished with four points on
1-for-5 shooting in 22 minutes.

The Kings were down 17 points early and rallied to tie the score
at 50-all in the final minute. However, Gay’s tip at the buzzer
gave the Grizzlies a two-point lead at the break.

Gay scored 15 points in the first half, and no Kings player was
in double digits. Both teams committed eight turnovers, but the
Kings shot 12 for 18 in the second quarter to get back into the
game.

Memphis then had a 9-0 run in the early minutes of the third
quarter and the Kings never threatened the rest of the way.

The Grizzlies got their offense back on track, scoring off
turnovers and getting out on the break. They also started
controlling the boards as they extended the lead to 23 late in the
third quarter.

Memphis outscored Sacramento 35-18 in the period and led 87-68
going into the fourth.

NOTES: Before the game, Westphal said of the Cousins situation,
“I wouldn’t say it’s resolved. We will see how it plays out. I
think DeMarcus has to continue to show maturity and a desire to go
the same direction as his teammates. We’re all hoping that
happens.” . Conley returned after missing two games with a sprained
left ankle he injured in the second game of the season. .The Kings
were playing the opener of their only stretch of three games in
three days during the compressed season. It was also the third of
five games in six nights. .During the game, it was announced that
Gene Bartow, who served as president of Hoops LLC, the parent
company of FedExForum and the Grizzlies, and a Hall of Fame college
coach, passed away after a long battle with cancer.

Rudy Gay scored 23 points, Sam Young added 20 and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Sacramento Kings 113-96 tonight at FedExForum.

O.J. Mayo had 16 points, and Mike Conley — returning from an ankle injury — and Marc Gasol scored 14 points each. Tony Allen added 10 points. Gasol also had 15 rebounds as Memphis outrebounded Sacramento 49-41. Tony Allen had 10 points.

With Memphis holding a double-digit lead for a bulk of the second half, the Kings’ reserves got extended minutes.

Jimmer Fredette scored 17 points and fellow rookie Isaiah Thomas had 15 to lead Sacramento as the Kings’ reserves got extended minutes with Memphis leading by double digits for a bulk of the second half.

J.J. Hickson was the only Sacramento starter to reach double figures, scoring 12 points. Travis Outlaw added 11.

Memphis finished 55 percent from the field, led by Gasol at 7 for 10 and Gay at 10 for 16. The Kings shot 41 percent.

DeMarcus Cousins came off the bench, as expected, after missing Sunday’s game against New Orleans when coach Paul Westphal told him to stay away from the team. Cousins finished with four points on 1-for-5 shooting in 22 minutes.

The Kings were down 17 points early and rallied to tie the score at 50-all in the final minute. However, Gay’s tip at the buzzer gave the Grizzlies a two-point lead at the break.

Gay scored 15 points in the first half, and no Kings player was in double digits. Both teams committed eight turnovers, but the Kings shot 12 for 18 in the second quarter to get back into the game.

Memphis then had a 9-0 run in the early minutes of the third quarter and the Kings never threatened the rest of the way.

The Grizzlies got their offense back on track, scoring off turnovers and getting out on the break. They also started controlling the boards as they extended the lead to 23 late in the third quarter.

Memphis outscored Sacramento 35-18 in the period and led 87-68 going into the fourth.

NOTES: Before the game, Westphal said of the Cousins situation, “I wouldn’t say it’s resolved. We will see how it plays out. I think DeMarcus has to continue to show maturity and a desire to go the same direction as his teammates. We’re all hoping that happens.” . Conley returned after missing two games with a sprained left ankle he injured in the second game of the season. .The Kings were playing the opener of their only stretch of three games in three days during the compressed season. It was also the third of five games in six nights. .During the game, it was announced that Gene Bartow, who served as president of Hoops LLC, the parent company of FedExForum and the Grizzlies, and a Hall of Fame college coach, passed away after a long battle with cancer.