The 31-year-old point guard had been listed as day-to-day with a sprained left hand through February and is coming off a back injury. He played in Sunday's All-Star game, though much to the relief of Spurs fans he didn't do much. His stat line: four points (2-for-5), two rebounds, one assist in 11 minutes.

He's averaging 17.7 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. The Spurs are 38-15 and second in the Western Conference.

San Antonio will start its Parker-less string of games Tuesday against the Clippers. 


ANTHONY'S TRADE EXPECTATION


Not only does Carmelo Anthony believe he won't be traded, he also believes any trades by the New York Knicks will go through him first.

Anthony expects to be consulted about any possibilities the Knicks are considering before the 3 p.m. Thursday deadline, according to CBS New York.

“I’m pretty sure they would bring it to me,’’ Anthony said prior to the Knicks’ game in Memphis Tuesday. “They would keep me up to date on what’s going on. As far as making decisions, that’s their job. I’m pretty sure they will keep me informed. What’s about to happen and what’s going to happen.”

The Knicks' shining star is on the front office personnel's good side after announcing he would "without a doubt" take a pay cut to help the Knicks improve their roster. It's a bold move for a player who's typically characterized as selfish, but even his wife believes he'll stay in New York. 

So far, Anthony doesn't have any insider details on any moves taking place.

“It’s Tuesday, and I haven’t heard anything as far as trades,’’ Anthony said. “As far as today, nothing’s happening. I haven’t heard anything. We’re planning on moving forward.’’

The rumor mill has the Knicks (20-32) shopping Raymond Felton and looking at the Raptors' Kyle Lowry and Hawks' Jeff Teague.


 


LeBRON FOR LONGER ALL-STAR BREAK


When LeBron James advocates for something, it would be wise to take it seriously.

In an interview with ESPN Radio, new commissioner Adam Silver said he met with multiple players during All-Star Weekend and James in particular lobbied for a longer All-Star break.

It's one of the items on the list of "B issues" Silver wants to address, along with increasing the age limit.

A longer All-Star break would need to be agreed upon between the league and NBA Players Association. It would allow for an actual break for James and fellow All-Stars, who spend their short break doing work-related appearances.

"A guy like LeBron, All-Star Weekend is not a break for him in any way," Silver told ESPN. "He's going around the clock with a combination of things the league is asking him to do, personal commitments, and I think it makes sense if we can work in the schedule a few days so the All-Stars can get a break as well."

As with increasing the age limit to 20, the extended All-Star break can be negotiated between the two sides at any time. Silver said he anticipates the longer break to be a prime discussion once the union selects a full-time replacement for former executive director Billy Hunter.


LIN BACK TO HOUSTON?


Linsanity, the sequel? According to one scribe, it's at least a possibility.

ESPN NBA writer Chad Ford stirred that pot Tuesday, saying the point guard is the Knicks' radar as they try to make a trade before Thursday's deadline.

"We've heard about them going after a point guard (such as) Kyle Lowry, Jeff Teague. I know another guy they'd love to get  their hands on right now, and that's Jeremy Lin," Ford said in a podcast segment with Bill Simmons. "And the question is, would Houston do it? I know the word is no, but maybe, to get out of  that contract. Maybe if Iman Shumpert and Tim Hardaway Jr. are in the deal. Maybe."

Simmons was incredulous that Shumpert and Hardaway would be in the discussion. Those two players represent the Knicks' young talent. Ford didn't budge.

"They want a point guard. They want something to shake this up," he replied. "That's someone that they would like."

New York is 3 1/2 games out of a playoff spot in the East despite a 20-33 record.

The Knicks moved on from Lin in 2012 when they decided not to match the Rockets' three-year, $25 million offer sheet to him and chose to go with Raymond Felton. The deal was heavily backloaded: Lin will make $15 million next season in the final year. Any team that acquires Lin would thus pay him more for one-plus year than the Rockets would for almost two. On the other hand, that'll be a big expiring-contract chip come next trade deadline.


'NOTHING IMMINENT' ON WAITERS


There has been talk, going back to December, that the Cleveland Cavaliers were eager to move second-year guard Dion Waiters, who has struggled to get along with star point guard Kyrie Irving on the court and in the locker room. Teams continue to call the Cavs about Waiters, but as a source told Sporting News on  Tuesday there is “nothing imminent there” on a Waiters trade.

In fact, one league executive said, “It seems like they are going to keep him.”

Despite a 20-33 record, Cleveland is considered a buyer at Thursday's deadline, because the team is eager to make a playoff push in the frightful Eastern Conference. Waiters has been offered for veteran help, the hope being that more experience in the locker room will help ease some of the Cavs' chemistry problems.

But the Cavaliers are asking a high price for Waiters. They don’t want to simply give him away, especially not with the team having headed into the All-Star break on a four-game winning streak. Over the break, Irving said that Cleveland players held a meeting following the firing of general manager Chris Grant and the chemistry has been better since.

That is in large part thanks to interim GM David Griffin, who took over for Grant and helped bridge whatever divide had developed between Waiters and Irving.

The bigger issue is the perception that trading Waiters would leave. Cleveland had the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft and used it on Anthony Bennett, who has struggled mightily as a rookie. Waiters, averaging 14.3 points on 41.7 percent shooting, was chosen with the No. 4 pick the previous year, and not getting a good return for him will cast an even more obvious pall on the Cavaliers’ drafting operation.

Even with Grant out, the team does not want that, and would be willing to give Waiters and Irving another chance to work together.

Contributor: Cassandra Negley, Sean Deveney, Tom Gatto