PBA Trade Analysis: The JP Erram trade made NLEX the future of the PBA

As everyone focuses on TNT because they have acquired JP Erram and now have arguably the best starting five of JP Erram-Troy Rosario-Ray Parks-RR Pogoy-Jayson Castro, NLEX has silently prepared a path for one of the most loaded line-ups in the history of the PBA.

Why? Let us analyze the current roster of NLEX.

They have five players who will not turn 28 this year in Kiefer Ravena, Kris Porter, Bong Galanza, Mike Ayonayon and Matt Nieto (the Gilas draftee who is currently not available). 

Looking at those five, Kiefer Ravena is a clear starting-caliber player already. I trust coach Yeng to turn at least one of Ayonayon and Nieto into a starting-caliber guard.

So, they still have to fill three spots for their future starting five. The 2020 BWE 1st will help a lot. Of course, we all know by now that the upcoming 2020 PBA draft could turn out to be a super loaded draft. A lot of people are pointing to Thirdy Ravena as the target of NLEX and reunite him with Kiefer. 

As he has shown in the game of Gilas against Indonesia, Thirdy looks like a capable face of the franchise. 

Now, he may not only be the target of NLEX though. Remember that there was a Gilas draft in 2019 and according to Gilas, that could happen again in the 2020 and 2021 draft? 

If that Blackwater pick turns out to be a top 3 pick and the rule of the Gilas draft remains the same, NLEX could have two top 3 picks.

Let us assume that Thirdy, Jamie Malonzo, Joshua Munzon, Santi Santillan, Justine Baltazar, Alvin Pasaol, James Laput, Franky Johnson, Jason Brickman and Calvin Oftana will join the draft.

NLEX can get two with the Blackwater pick. Let us assume that they ended up with the 3rd pick and Thirdy, Santillan, Baltazar, Pasaol and Oftana are the options in the Gilas draft.

At this point, I will predict Thirdy as the top pick, and then Baltazar. NLEX could go with Oftana because he is the perfect fit for a team that already has two ball-dominant guards for their future. If you are not aware of Oftana, his best credential is that he was the 2019 MVP of the NCAA.

Yes. He is that good.

The regular draft will be more interesting with Malonzo, Munzon, Laput, Brickman and Johnson. Laput is a 6'9 center that does not have that much skill so he was not given that much of playing time last year in DLSU of UAAP. With the current hype, Malonzo and Munzon will be the top 2 picks. So, Laput could be the guy for NLEX because of the importance of gigantic centers and I trust coach Yeng to develop him to become their starting center of the future. 

Now, here is the deal, NLEX also holds their pick for that draft. Remember that they ended up as the 3rd worst team last year?

And with the improved Columbian Dyip and Alaska Aces, NLEX can easily get to the bottom 5, again. For conservatism, let us assume they end up with the #5 pick.

So, out of our assumed Gilas draft, I think Santillan will go last. And then int the regular draft, let us say Johnson. 

And now, NLEX has a young core that we have never seen before in the PBA, this century.

I am talking about this:

Center - James Laput

Forward - Santi Santillan | Calvin Oftana | Kris Porter
Wing - Franky Johnson | Matt Nieto | Bong Galanza
Guards - Kiefer Ravena | Mike Ayonayon

Of course, it will still depend a lot on the development of the prospects. Fortunately for NLEX, they have the most successful developmental coach in the PBA.