"A year ago at this time, the Spurs were recently removed from a disappointing 50-win season that had culminated in a second-round Western Conference playoff sweep at the hands of the Phoenix Suns.

And Tony Parker found himself the subject of trade rumors.

Speculation that the Spurs' All-Star point guard would be shipped to New York in the run-up to the 2010 NBA Draft proved more figment of media imagination than anything else. Parker hung around to sign a four-year contract extension last November and help the Spurs to 61 victories and the West's No. 1 seed before a historic, first-round playoff ouster against the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies.

Which, on the eve of another draft, has landed Parker another turn on the trade-rumor carousel.

As loudly as Spurs decision-makers have insisted they see no need to blow up a roster that won more games than 28 teams last season, the league-wide perception that a silver-and-black makeover is in order has manifested itself in a number of teams calling to inquire about the availability of one member of the team's so-called "Big Three."

Though Spurs general manager R.C. Buford does not deny discussions about trading Parker for a chance to move up from No. 29 in tonight's draft have taken place, he is adamant none of those talks have been initiated by the Spurs.

"We're not shopping anyone," Buford told the Express-News via text message. "We've received calls on a lot of our guys, and we've answered the phone."

According to a league source, the Spurs are targeting Washington State's Klay Thompson. The 6-foot-7 shooting guard, who averaged 21.6 points as a junior last season, is being projected as a mid-lottery pick, perhaps going as early as 10th to Milwaukee.

A Yahoo! Sports report, citing unidentified league sources, first indicated the Spurs have been in talks with Toronto and Sacramento involving Parker. The Raptors hold the fifth pick, while the Kings select seventh.

Parker isn't the only Spurs point guard to find his name in trade talks. According to league sources, George Hill, Parker's backup, has been mentioned in discussions with teams lower in the lottery, including the Bucks.

Hill's agent, Michael Whitacre, said Wednesday the third-year guard was aware of the trade chatter."