Grizzlies’ Darrell Arthur Out for the Season

There was speculation that this was inevitable, and now the Commercial Appeal confirms that Darrell Arthur’s season is over before it even began: “The Grizzlies are preparing an offer sheet for Charlotte Bobcats restricted free agent Dante Cunningham, and team officials have held trade discussions with the Philadelphia 76ers as a response to forward Darrell Arthur’s season-ending Achilles injury. Magnetic resonance imaging performed Monday on Arthur confirmed that he has a torn right Achilles and will miss the entire 2011-12 season. Memphis, shorthanded up front before Arthur’s injury, is in the market for two frontcourt players. Cunningham is viewed as a close replacement for Arthur, and the Griz also have 76ers versatile big man Marresse Speights on their radar, according to sources with knowledge of the Grizzlies’ thinking … Arthur was MIA at practice Monday because he had to undergo the MRI. Meanwhile, his teammates couldn’t have been more S-A-D about Arthur being sidelined 6-12 months with the Achilles injury. ‘It definitely hurts,’ forward Zach Randolph said. ‘He’s come into his own. He’s been working so hard this summer with his game and for him to go down it really hurt. We feel for him. It’s just a tough situation.’ Arthur, a 6-9 reserve, had no previous problems with the right Achilles. He had just returned to practice Sunday after missing time with a sore left Achilles. The injury happened while Arthur played defense against Randolph. Teammates initially thought that Arthur injured his ankle when he landed awkwardly. Griz coach Lionel Hollins later informed the players that Arthur’s condition was more serious.”