There are undercurrents to Mo Peterson's status that caused eyebrows to be raised when Raptor officials said about 45 minutes before game time last night that he wouldn't be in the lineup.

The seven-year veteran and longest-serving member of the team is in the final year of a contract that will pay him slightly more than $4 million (U.S.) this year, making him one of general manager Bryan Colangelo's biggest assets on the trade market.

League sources have told the Star that "several" teams enquired about Peterson's availability earlier this season when coach Sam Mitchell took him out of the starting lineup to give the job to Fred Jones.

Teams starved for outside shooting ? New Orleans, Denver or the Clippers ? could have some interest in Peterson for his ability and his contract.