All things considered, this is nothing for Memphis small forward Rudy Gay.

There are indications that the new Grizzlies management team is considering trading Gay — the player who was once seen as the centrepiece of the franchise’s future. But he swears he’s not concerned with the notion that he may leave the only NBA team he has ever known.

“It doesn’t bother me,” Gay said of the revelation first made public by Grantland’s Zach Lowe last week that he was being discussed with other teams. “It’s not the first time. It’s the league. It’s my seventh year in the league and I’ve pretty much seen everything. If I haven’t seen it, I’ve been a part of it. It’s nothing new.

“I’ll be me there (at his possible new team). You are what you can do. Wherever I am, I can be me. As much as you want to be together (as a team), it’s up to the organization whether they want to keep you. For me, I think I owe it to my teammates to play like I play and not be bothered by it. “

Robert Pera, 34, is the majority owner of an investment group that bought the team from 75-year-old Michael Heisley for $377 million in late October. And while longtime general manager Chris Wallace was retained by Pera, a new management team is in place that is now spearheading the operation. That group is led by CEO Jason Levien (a former agent turned assistant general manager of the Sacramento Kings turned minority owner of the Philadelphia 76ers), vice president of basketball operations John Hollinger (a former ESPN writer and advanced statistics guru) and director of player personnel Stu Lash (a former agent who spent five years working with the Denver Nuggets front office and coaching staffs).

According to several people with knowledge of the Grizzlies’ plan, they are actively calling teams all around the league to gauge the market value of several of their players, in part, as a way of learning what their new assets are truly worth to other teams. They are, in essence, playing catch-up in this information game that is so crucial to a team’s ability to make the most intelligent and efficient moves possible.

But rival executives have indicated that the Grizzlies are discussing Gay above the rest of the Grizzlies and making it clear that he’s attainable for the right price. The growing sentiment around the league is that Gay is likely to be moved before the Feb. 21 deadline, and it’s highly likely they would demand a starting small forward in return.

While Phoenix, Golden State, Sacramento, and Denver are known to have discussed Gay with the Grizzlies, a person with knowledge of the situation said that Toronto is also very interested.

The talks with the Suns are still ongoing and the Grizzlies have expressed interest in small forward Jared Dudley as well as the Suns’ future first round picks. The Raptors’ and Warriors’ situations remain viable, while the talks with the Kings and Nuggets appear to be fruitless.

The struggling Dallas Mavericks — so badly in need of starpower beyond the aging Dirk Nowitzki—are not currently pursuing Gay, according to a person with knowledge of their dealings. The Raptors are widely known to be shopping former No. 1 pick, centre Andrea Bargnani, but the Grizzlies may be pursuing point guard Jose Calderon in light of the fact that they are known to be looking for a more suitable backup than Jerry Bayless for point guard Mike Conley. According to ESPN, Toronto are believed to be offering Calderon, Ed Davis and draft picks.

The Warriors have shown a serious interest in Gay, but their preference to have either small forward Richard Jefferson in the deal (two years, $21 million remaining) or centre Andris Biedrins (two years, $18 million) are seen as dealbreakers. Still, the Warriors’ impassioned interest in Gay coupled with the affordability and Grizzlies’ interest in rookie small forward Harrison Barnes makes the situation worth watching. The talks continue to be exploratory in nature for the most part, but the significant level of interest in Gay may prompt the Grizzlies to deal him.

It’s also widely known that the Grizzlies want to get under the luxury tax threshold that will become more punitive next season as part of the current collective bargaining agreement. Memphis’ salary for this season is $74.3 million, putting them $4.04 million over the tax line and en route to a tax bill of approximately $6 million. Despite playing in one of the smallest markets in the league, they have the fifth highest payroll.

Gay is owed $16.4 million for this season, $17.8 million for next season, and has a player option for $19.3 million in 2014-15. While he’s an all-star calibre player who has averaged 17.9 points and 5.8 rebounds in his seven seasons, the Grizzlies have shown an ability to win without him in the past and are also locked into pricey, long-term deals with Randolph, Gasol and Conley.

It’s a sensitive situation, however, because this is hardly a rebuilding effort.

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Since going 24-58 in the 2008-09 season, Memphis has seen steady improvement in the regular season (40-42 in 2009-10 to 46-36 and 41-25 last season) while making Gay, point guard Mike Conley and big men Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol their core. Their seven-game, first-round loss to the Clippers was a setback in terms of playoff success, but Gay and his teammates had hoped to take it to the next level this season. They are currently 22-10 and fourth place in the Western Conference.

“It’s tough,” Conley said. “For us who have been here through the 20-win seasons and seen the growth of the team and the progress we’ve made over the years, it’s tough to see statements made or rumours about how certain guys are up for a trade when it seems like we’ve gotten better and better year after year sticking together. I hope that nothing happens. I’m confident that nothing will, but we can only control what we can control.”