Trade Rumors

Nice Photoshop skills. But trade still in limbo
(Photo credits to the owner)

While we await the final decision/ approval of the PBA Commissioner's Office, let's take a seat and digest the possible transactions that have already seen the light of Internet day (which, in reality, sounds more like gossip than news but hey, whatever sells right?).

First up is the blockbuster deal that would involve sister teams Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and San Miguel, and conduit Barako Bull Energy Cola. In this trade, Ginebra will get the services of Marcio Lassiter, San Miguel gets JC Intal and Barako lands Mac Baracael.

Sure, it involves sister and farm teams but when was the last time we had a trade of almost equal value in the PBA?

Intal has been on the rise as of late, highlighted by his first PBA Player of the Week award (in a very long time anyway, if it isn't his first). Basically, Intal appears to be one of those cats who go through the motions of being a serviceable PBA player who then revs up the engine when it is time to search for greener pastures (i.e. contract extension, boost one's stock for a possible trade, etc.). The BB wing man has been very aggressive in three games so far, actually looking to take the ball to the hoop and finish at the rim instead of settling for jumpers and just breaking a sweat with all the useless running.

If he is to be dealt to SMB, we could actually see his performance dipping quite a bit since he will be forced to share minutes with whichever among former PBA MVP Arwind Santos and many-time PBA Best Import AZ Reid plays the 3 spot (plus some Ronald Tubid and Chris Lutz as well).

Still, we have never heard of anything ill about Intal the PBA player so he'll be a great addition to an SMB team that has had its history of egos, malcontents and playing time concerns.

Over to Ginebra and they will land a guy that head coach Frankie Lim has made no secrets of wanting-- Lassiter. A classy, two-way player with that "look" of hunger, grit and determination to him much like resident former PBA MVP Mark Caguioa and new addition Sol Mercado. Sure, there are a handfold of "two-way" guys in the PBA, but none like Lassiter who has that "hit or miss" "go-to-guy" mentality that you just don't see a lot from his peers Chris Lutz and Dondon Hontiveros (who play a more deliberate, "controlled" tempo IMHO).

Then there is Baracael. A one-time national team stopper at the wing and even high to low post who lost his way, first in Alaska and then all the bad habits started turning up with Ginebra. We love this trade, since Baracael will be able to work with a Xs, Os and skills-coach in Koy Banal. Perhaps he can rediscover his old self, and go back to being that ace stopper which we likened to a younger, bigger and no tattoo sleeve Ronald Tubid.

A win on all fronts basically. Ginebra gets a starter, San Miguel gets a key role player while a "farm" team like Barako gets a diamond in the rough.

Next up is the deal involving GlobalPort, NLEX and Meralco (the last two being sister teams, this time under the Team MVP umbrella).

NLEX will get sharpshooter John Wilson, who has been making waves as of late as an even better/ younger and more efficient answer to his kuya Gary David. Why Meralco opted to trade him is a bit of a wonder, since he can play a lot better defense than David while being the same gunslinger on the other end (although with a slightly slower, awkward looking release). Wilson will have the opportunity to shine with NLEX, since he'll only have to unseat Mac Cardona as the starting 2 guard (Cardona's been on a steady decline the bulk of this season).

GlobalPort gets a 2016 2nd round pick. Of course they'll go for it. Trade chip.

Meralco will then land the 6"7 Nabong, which basically means that once John Ferriols, Danny Ildefonso and maybe Reynel Hugnatan hang it up-- this team will be built on a position less frontline of athletes/ all around hustlers with Nabong, Cliff Hodge, Sean Anthony and the rest. Sure, they will play ugly basketball in the pivot, but they will be scrappy, interchangeable on the pick and roll defense, and fun to watch.

Win-win for the two sister teams. Not sure about the 2nd round pick for GlobalPort in 2016, since the pool doesn't seem as deep as first theorized.