San Miguel Acquires JM Calma: Is NorthPort Acting Like a Team Preparing for a Sale?
San Miguel and NorthPort have just completed a trade, with the Beermen acquiring JM Calma while the Batang Pier receive Avan Nava and a second-round pick. On paper, this deal seems like a win-win, but the deeper implications could be more interesting—especially for NorthPort.
San Miguel’s Bet on a Recovered JM Calma
For the Beermen, this trade is a bit of a gamble. Calma, a 6’7” big man, showed promise before suffering an ACL injury a year ago. If healthy, he could provide depth and size for a team that has been looking for younger bigs to eventually take the reins from June Mar Fajardo.
But the real concern is: Is he still the same player?
ACL injuries are notoriously difficult to recover from, and even if Calma is back on the court, his mobility, explosiveness, and confidence in his knee will determine his effectiveness. If he returns to pre-injury form, this could be a steal for SMB. If not, it’s a low-risk move that doesn’t hurt their depth too much.
NorthPort Finally Addressing Their Point Guard Issue
For NorthPort, acquiring Avan Nava makes a lot of sense. They desperately need a point guard, and Nava is a player who hasn’t been given a real opportunity yet.
But what stands out in this trade is the inclusion of a second-round pick.
A straight swap of Calma for Nava would have been a fair, defensible deal. But NorthPort insisting on getting an additional draft pick is very telling.
Could this be a sign that NorthPort is indeed preparing for a sale?
Is NorthPort Trying to Maximize Value Before a Sale?
Recent rumors have suggested that NorthPort is on the market, much like Terrafirma. If true, getting maximum value in trades would make sense. By squeezing a second-round pick out of SMB, they ensure that they aren’t giving away talent for nothing—a stark contrast from their past farm team tendencies.
A team that intends to stay competitive would probably have made this deal without demanding a pick. But a team that is preparing to sell? They might want to stockpile assets to make their franchise look more valuable to potential buyers.
Final Thoughts
This trade is low-risk for SMB and a smart move for NorthPort—but the bigger story could be the subtle clues that NorthPort is acting differently.
If this franchise is indeed up for sale, then expect more moves where they refuse to lose trades outright. They might not suddenly become contenders, but they’re at least making smarter moves, which could be a sign of a changing philosophy—or a business decision to maximize their selling price.
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