Morris Peterson, a restricted free agent of the Toronto Raptors, has signed an offer sheet with the New Orleans Hornets. The Raptors have 15 days to match the offer or they will lose Peterson who was the 21st pick in the 2000 NBA draft.

According to a report by Doug Smith in the Toronto Sun the Hornets signed Peterson to a three year, $15 million offer sheet which puts the Raptors in an awkward position.  Matching the offer would be an expensive proposition, and do they do so for a player who would rather be elsewhere?

Listening to Peterson you'd get the idea that he's already gone.

"I'm excited about the opportunity to play for New Orleans,'' Peterson told Associated Press last night. "After Toronto didn't show a lot of loyalty, I feel like New Orleans is giving me a fresh start with a first-class organization."

Peterson's comments, however, may be premature if you listen to new GM Rob Babcock, who hopes to keep the 27 year old in Canada.

"We'll get (the offer), evaluate it and make a decision but we think he's a good fit for what we want to do," Babcock said last night. "All I can say is we like Mo, we think he's a good player and my intention is to keep him."

Peterson did not miss a game last season and averaged 8.3 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.

Uncertainty surrounds the small forward position in New Orleans heading into next season because 2003 All-Star Jamal Mashburn has a right knee injury that kept him out of all but 19 games last season. He sat out the playoffs last season, suggested the Hornets may have mishandled his injury and said the pain may force his premature retirement.