Powerade gets additional future pick on Taulava trade

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) has been drawing flak either from basketball fans and even some members regarding one-sided trades that happened in the past. Newly-appointed PBA commissioner Atty. Chito Salud is now working a new program regarding the trading of players in hope of putting an end to lopsided trades that is slowly but surely destroying the league’s good reputation. In fact, the second-generation commissioner of the pro league has just stepped into the picture regarding the recent three-way trade which involved Powerade, Barako Bull and Meralco and players Asi Taulava, Rob Reyes, Jason Misolas, Ken Bono and a future second-round draft pick. In the previous trade transaction made by these three teams, Taulava, a former Most Valuable Player, was traded to the Bolts while Bono and Misolas went to the Energy Boosters. The Tigers got Reyes in the package along with a second-round pick in 2013.

But Salud advised the teams that the trade wasn’t balance and appeared lopsided and changes were made. In the end, the Tigers got an additional future second-round pick in the deal. “In fact, I even moved it to 2011 and 2012 second-round picks and not 2013," Salud told GMANews.TV in a telephone interview. “Asi Taulava is a marquee player and I believe the players who will be traded for him should be of equal value." Salud, son of former PBA commissioner Atty. Rudy Salud, said that he’s now working on a process in terms of trading players, the span of period for a player traded for a future pick and even teams acting as conduit. “The span of period must not be long. The ideal is three years. You cannot trade a player to another team in exchange of a 2020 pick when you made a transaction at this time," said Salud. “Even teams which will act as conduit, the value of player they should involve in the transaction must be of the same caliber as the two teams." “I believe having equal trades will be good for the league and I’m sure teams will realize that." Bringing the RTL back? Before, the PBA had a rule in terms of trading players called the Restricted Trade List (RTL) to maintain parity. Under the RTL are marquee players of all the 10 teams, which means a player can only be traded to a certain player which is on the same list. It was scrapped as teams believe that there was a loophole in the process. “That’s because teams can also replace a player who they previously put in the RTL by another player not of same caliber. Which is why, even a marquee player can be traded to a player who is not of his caliber because teams can replace a player in the RTL before a trade transaction can be made," said a team executive, who requested anonymity. But whether the RTL will be revived or new guidelines will be made by Salud, Rain or Shine co-team owner Raymond Yu and Powerade board governor JB Baylon welcomed these new developments taking place before the opening of the league’s 36th season. “Lopsided trades could destroy the league and even fans don’t like that," said Yu in a telephone interview. “I’m not saying we should bring back the RTL, but there should be a system in place as far as trading of players is concerned and the trade should be reasonable. In my opinion, there should be an end in lopsided trades for the betterment of the league." Baylon shared the same views with Yu. “I have no strong feelings for the RTL nor I’m against the concept," said Baylon in a text message. “But at least the commissioner is doing something to avoid lopsided trades and that’s good." - KY, GMANews.TV