Trade aftermath, players who'll gain/ lose stock

Now that the dust has settled and the smoke has finally cleared, here's my take on the players who are most likely to gain/ lose from the Air21-San Miguel blockbuster (read: semi-lopsided) deal that went down just a few days ago that sent this year's top 3 picks (Rabeh Al Hussaini, Noynoy Baclao and Rey Guevarra) to San Miguel for beloved veterans (Dondon Hontiveros, Danny Seigle, Dorian Pena and Paul Artadi).


GAIN

Rabeh Al Hussaini
- we already knew that he was the best talent on this year's draft despite being "disrespected" by Air21 management and being selected second overall. What Al Hussaini has yet to show on defense, he makes up for on offense as being the last of a dying breed of old school, banging bigs who are not allergic from the post.  Now, Al Hussaini gets to showcase his talents on a "prime time" team wherein he'll undoubtedly be the franchise big man of the future (unless Greg Slaughter drastically improves this year under Ateneo coach Norman Black in the coming UAAP season AND isn't drafted first by an MVP team).

Paul Artadi
- a career back-up sparkplug, Artadi will now earn a shot at being a full time starter with Air21 with Wynne Arboleda showing signs of slowing down, and Josh Urbiztondo being more of an undersized streaky shooter than an actual pass-first guard. If Artadi ever learns when and where to slow down during crucial games ala his ex-mentor Olsen Racela, there still might be some hope for the spitfire guard.

Joseph Yeo
- with the departure of Dondon Hontiveros, Yeo instantly becomes SMB's best two-guard with Lordy Tugade still being the same lackadaisical player brought in by Red Bull (only difference now is, no one expects him to contribute anymore) and Rey Guevarra still unproven in the big leagues.

Rey Guevarra
- Yeo will undoubtedly get the starting nod, but now it's up to Guevarra to show his value on the floor for the San Miguel Beermen and why he was a valued piece of the earlier edition of the Smart Gilas basketball team. Can he be an even better sparkplug than Yeo? That remains to be seen, but the ceiling is quite high for Guevarra, who once drew comparisons with equally flashy and now legit PBA superstar Cyrus Baguio.

LOSE

Noynoy Baclao
- the prized "defensive specialist" would've excelled on a team of lesser talent, where his off-the-ball contributions would be highly appreciated and lauded by fans and media. But now that he's on a superstar team loaded with talent on both ends, Baclao will have to learn some go-to-moves on offense to play meaningful minutes OR settle for being either Arwind Santos, Jay Washington or Al Hussaini's back-up. Think Denok Miranda, a defensive-minded point guard with high basketball IQ, stuck behind the flashy Alex Cabagnot, wildfire Artadi AND an aging Olsen Racela.

Arwind Santos
- not that I see Santos' minutes or production ever going down since he's too talented an all-around player to suffer such fate, but the addition of Noynoy Baclao, plus playing in an import-laden conference will hurt his game in the long run. At this point, SMB head coach Ato Agustin has probably realized that Santos is the 1b to Washington's 1a-- but only because Washington has accepted playing inside the paint, while Santos has somehow contracted the dreaded "Yancy de Ocampo" disease (read: shoots 3s and jumpers, hardly bangs in the paint as opposed to his college days).