Ja Morant's trade saga underscores the difference between teams simply showing interest in a player and legitimately pursuing him in a deal.

The New Orleans Pelicans have emerged as a surprise suitor for Ja Morant.

The Toronto Raptors are going to be a team to watch ahead of February's NBA trade deadline. According to ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst, the Raptors "have been on the phones in recent weeks gauging the trade value of some of their players, including RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley."

The Timberwolves have been combing the trade market for weeks, evaluating possibilities both big and small. At this point, making a major move for a player like Morant or LaMelo Ball is highly unlikely,