Measuring the Likeliness of Columbian Trading the 2018 #1 Pick

(c) PBA Media Bureau

As the 2018 draft gets closer and closer, the biggest question remains the same. Will Columbian Dyip keep the #1 pick or not? 

Spin.ph provided three big news related to that question in the last few weeks. So, let us now measure the probability of a trade for the #1 pick.

NO PLAN
The first news was about Columbian's plan with the #1  pick. Their answer? They have not discussed it. The assistant manager said that their focus is to get over the Governors' Cup before discussing the draft.

Those comments just show how "serious" the franchise is about their stay in the PBA. If they really want to compete, they should not take it conference by conference because that is not the right way to build a franchise.

The most terrifying words though that came out of Iby Bautista was about the fact that the management will basically be the one to decide on the matter.

And the way the franchise is directed, it is more likely that they will turn the #1 pick into a business asset again because that will be another quick money for them. 

#1 PICK PROHIBITION
I am pretty sure you are already aware of the new rule that will prohibit the trading of the #1 pick. I already have an article explaining why the rule is useless. (Read it here: THE NEW RULE OF PROHIBITING TRADING OF #1 PICK IS ACTUALLY "USELESS).

What made it more mind-boggling was their decision to start implementing it by 2019 and not providing a legit reason why. They basically did that to respect the option of Columbian to trade the pick.

I think this news is the biggest indicator that Dyip is motivated to trade the pick. Without any logical reason for not starting the rule this year, it seems like Dyip was the one who asked for it. 

PARKS WEIGHING OPTIONS
I believe that the reason why Parks is still not decided if he will join the draft is the fact that Columbian is holding the #1 pick. 

The reality is, Parks being traded by Columbian or Parks playing for Columbian can both hurt his image and career, unless Columbian management makes a 180-degree turn and takes the PBA seriously. If that happens, Parks playing for Columbian will suddenly turn appealing and real.

OVERALL
Combining all those three news, I will go with 70% chance. Meaning, there is a 70% chance of them shifting the pick.

Yes. It is more than 50% already. All the three articles above revealed something about the current Columbian puzzle. I think, the biggest thing that is hindering them from selling the pick was the lingering effect of their Standhardinger trade.

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