Trade reaction: Carlo Lastimosa to NLEX

The Yeng Guiao era is slowly dawning upon us.

In what we feel is only the beginning of more roster changes, the newly-installed NLEX head coach has acquired the services of rising star Carlo Lastimosa from the Blackwater Elite in exchange for little-used James Forrester and a 2016 PBA Draft 2nd round pick (which in essence is really a 3rd rounder no thanks to the Gilas "special" draft).

Basically, they lost a 6mpg 1ppg 1rpg guy and gained a 2nd generation talent who is coming off a breakout season by averaging 26mpg 18ppg 3rpg 2apg while shooting 43% from the 2-pt and 32% from 3.

Let the madness begin... The Return of Asi

Can the Cool Cat shine anew in a different system?
(Photo courtesy of PBA InterAKTV)

So the two camps have finally reached a middle ground.

After weeks of endless discussion and possible (and fantasy) trade scenarios, the Meralco Bolts have agreed to give its rights to inactive (re: moonlighting/ reigning ASEAN Basketball Most Valuable Player) big man Asi Taulava to the Air21 Express in exchange for the (equally) resuscitated career of point guard Mike Cortez.

Now if you're naive enough to believe that Taulava is going to stay put and suit up for the Express and is in it for the long haul,  well, good for you. But it doesn't take much rewinding, research and exploring to connect the dots and see where this is going to.