It’s that time of the year when the rumors start heating up. And here’s a new one.

According to Marc Stein, “more than one rival team” has suggested that a blockbuster trade could go down between the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics and Memphis Grizzlies: 

So it’s premature, to me, to throw Pierce’s name up there with Rudy Gay and Pau Gasol on the list of high-profile names available this trade season, even though we’ve heard more than one rival team speculate — given that the Celtics and Grizzlies, sources say, have indeed held some exploratory trade talks since Gay hit the market — that a three-way deal where Pierce lands in Memphis, Gasol goes to Boston and Gay joins the Lakers makes “some sense.”

Now, in theory, this trade helps all teams involved: Rudy Gay would give the Lakers an athletic scorer to take the burden off Kobe, Pau Gasol would give the Celtics a legit center, moving Kevin Garnett back to his preferred power forward spot, and the Grizzlies would save money – the main reason they want to trade Gay – by making a move for Paul Pierce. Plus, they’d get a veteran to help lead their fairly young team into the playoffs.

Of course, three-team trades are always complicated, and Gay’s contract is very high for a guy who’s never been an All-Star, but it’s a move worth thinking about – especially as a couple of different teams could see it happening – and given the Celtics’ reported interest in Gasol last year.

It’s a longshot, but maybe there’s something there.