Lassiter to Ginebra?

Super Marcio
(Photo credits to the owner)

In this report by Snow Badua as seen on Spin.ph, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel's newly installed head coach Frankie Lim is exploring the possibility of adding sister team San Miguel Beer's Marcio Lassiter into the roster.

And you know what? It would make perfect sense.

Lassiter has been very inconsistent over at SMB, in a loaded wing rotation that features Chris Lutz, Ronald Tubid, Arwind Santos and even rookie Ronald Pascual. Most of the time he's on the bench nursing an injury, and when he is indeed healthy, he often finds himself getting in and out of rhythm simply because SMB head coach Leo Austria needs to spread the minutes for all the above-mentioned wing guys (so that he doesn't hurt any one's feelings).

Over at Ginebra though?


When the team opted to do away with James Forrester and Dylan Ababou, it meant only one thing: 35-year-old Mark Caguioa and his bossom buddy 38-year-old Jayjay Helterbrand will be playing superstar minutes until the proverbial wheels fall off. They will trade every one else on the roster, promises of potential superstardom be damned (John Wilson and Allein Maliksi come to mind), but not the definitive duo that have carried the Barangay from the glorious Jaworski days, to the powerhouse Eric Menk era to the seven year title drought that is today.

So yeah, those two aren't going anywhere.

That being said, with L.A. Tenorio running the point with Emman Monfort and maybe a Josh Urbiztondo (not to mention a Jens Knuttel waiting in Ginebra purgatory), the only open spot left on Ginebra is at small forward.

Mac Baracael is the biggest trade asset, so let's take him out of the picture. We already know that Coach Frankie is high on Chris Ellis, so he'll stay put and play back-up to the more basketball-polished Lassiter.

Chris Ellis can dunk, he can make shots, and he has tremendous athleticism.

Chris Ellis cannot make plays, he cannot beat his man off the dribble (he has the explosive first step, but he doesn't have the handles), and his defense is still raw at this level.

Marcio Lassiter can shoot, pass and defend. We haven't seen him dunk, but when was that ever a prerequisite in players?

Marcio Lassiter is also feisty. He has that look onto him that shows you when he's engaged and when he's going through the motions. He has that fire, which when probably egged by the Barangay, would burn as bright as that of Caguioa's.

Coach Frankie wants Ginebra to run, which is what the previous coaches also wanted. But to run, you need to have the tools. A rebounder is one. The next are guys who can not just run, but actually pull up for the jumper when the defense stops them from going full throttle.

The difference between a finisher (Ellis) and a creator (Lassiter). The ability to adjust while on the fly. When you're on the break and a defender suddenly pops up in front of you, that you don't just try to run him over or evade him, but to actually be able to think of all of your options-- pull up, pull out, hesitate, whatever.

We love this trade, should it happen, because it frees Lassiter of Lutz who is basically the same shoot, pass, defend player as he is.

It puts pressure on him, to perform minus Lutz. To establish himself as his own man.

So yeah, someone pull the trigger on this trade rumor stat.

P.S.

How awkward would it be for Joseph Yeo though, if he were the guy traded to SMB (via a third party of course)?