The Rockets are unlikely to use their disabled player exception, according to sources, before it expires on Monday.

The NBA granted the Rockets the disabled player exception on Jan. 14 because they lost Yao Ming for the season.

The NBA announced the Western and Eastern Conference starters for the 2011 All-Star Game on Thursday, which will take place in Los Angeles on February 20th.

Western Conference
• Chris Paul, Hornets
• Kobe Bryant, Lakers
• Kevin Durant, Thunder
• Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets
• Yao Ming, Rockets

Eastern Conference
• Derrick Rose, Bulls
• Dwyane Wade, Heat
• LeBron James, Heat
• Amar'e Stoudemire, Knicks
• Dwight Howard, Magic

• Click here to view RealGM's All-Star page.

The Knicks have surpassed the Lakers as the NBA's most valuable franchise, according to findings from Forbes.

New York is valued at $655 million, while the Lakers are close behind at $643 million.

The Bulls, Celtics and Rockets comprise the remainder of the top-five.

In the wake of LeBron James leaving in free agency, the Cavaliers had a single-year decrease of 26%.

Full Rankings
1. Knicks
2. Lakers
3. Bulls
4. Celtics
5. Rockets
6. Mavericks
7. Heat
8. Suns
9. Spurs
10. Raptors
11. Magic
12. Warriors
13. Pistons
14. Blazers
15. Cavaliers
16. Jazz
17. 76ers
18. Thunder
19. Wizards
20. Nuggets
21. Nets
22. Clippers
23. Hawks
24. Kings
25. Bobcats
26. Hornets
27. Pacers
28. Grizzlies
29. Timberwolves
30. Bucks

The Rockets plan to recall guard Ish Smith from the D-League on Monday.

Smith has played the last four games with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. He averaged 12.8 points and seven assists during the assignment.

He is expected to be active against the Timberwolves on Monday night due to injuries to Brad Miller and Jared Jeffries.

Several sources close to Carmelo Anthony tell Chris Broussard that he is willing to play out the season and sign in New York as a free agent next summer, feeling that he can make up lost salary through endorsements.

With the belief that Anthony will end up signing with the Knicks growing, teams may back off their pursuit of the All-Star forward.

"Sources also say sentiment around the league that Anthony will sign with New York is so strong that many teams that have been willing to trade for Anthony as a rental are now reconsidering," Broussard writes.

The Rockets are thought to be a prime candidate to rent Anthony but if the team feels its chances of convincing him to sign an extension to stay in Houston are slim, it will not make a substantial offer to Denver.

Sources tell Broussard that the Knicks' timetable for trading Anthony Randolph may be pushed back by about one week with the Nets pulling out of trade discussions to acquire Anthony.

Minnesota and Indiana are the likeliest destinations for Randolph because both teams have an available first-round pick that the Knicks can use in a trade for Anthony.

But the Nuggets may be interested in taking Randolph for themselves.

Rockets guard Ishmael Smith was assigned to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the Houston's NBA Development League affiliate, it was announced Monday. 

The assignment marks the 32nd time in the 2010-11 season an NBA player has been assigned to an NBA D-League affiliate, and it is the first assignment for Smith, a rookie out of Wake Forest.

Smith has appeared in 24 games this season for the Rockets, averaging 3.1 points, 2.4 assists and 1.5 rebounds.

Houston signed Smith, an undrafted free agent, in August. On the Rockets' 2010 NBA Summer League team, Smith averaged 7.8 points and a team-high 4.8 assists in five starts at point guard.

Rockets rookie Patrick Patterson was taken to a local hospital in Atlanta after complaining of chest pains during the team's game against the Hawks on Saturday night.

Initial tests showed no issues beyond flu-like symptoms.

Patterson has returned to Houston and is listed as day-to-day.

The NBA has granted the Rockets a disabled player salary exception in the wake of Yao Ming's season-ending injury.

Yao underwent surgery on Jan. 6 to repair a stress fracture in his left ankle.

The exception allows Houston to acquire a free agent, or trade for a player without having to match salaries, up to the value of the mid-level exception (about $5.765 million).

The Rockets must use the exception by Jan. 31 or it will expire.

Houston was granted the same exception after Yao missed last season following re-constructive foot surgery.

The Timberwolves inquired with the Rockets about guard Aaron Brooks, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.

Minnesota offered Jonny Flynn, but conversations between the two teams went nowhere, according to league sources.

Dwight Howard has expressed empathy for Yao Ming, saying that he hopes the Rockets center is able to return to the NBA soon.

"I just want him to get healthy - that's it," Howard said.

"I think a lot of people try to pressure him to get back as soon as possible. Once you're away from the game for a while, you always try to rush and get back. And I think that's what he did."

Howard, 25, has avoided major injury problems in his seven NBA seasons, but said the stress on the body of a big man is often underestimated.

"It's tough. He's 7-foot-5 and, you know, he weights a lot," Howard said.

"And it takes a toll on your ankle, your knees and your feet. And just as well as anybody else who plays basketball for a long time, you have to protect your knees, your feet and your ankles. I just hope he gets better. That's it. I love playing against him. He's a great person. So, I just hope he gets better."