NorthPort Trades Abu Tratter for James Kwekuteye: A Fair Deal on Paper, But Raises Questions for Batang Pier
NorthPort has once again made moves in the trade market, pulling off a one-for-one deal by acquiring guard James Kwekuteye from Blackwater in exchange for big man Abu Tratter. The PBA officially approved the trade during the ongoing Philippine Cup.
This is the second trade in a short span for NorthPort, who earlier sent JM Calma to San Miguel in exchange for rookie Avan Nava and a future draft pick just before the All-Filipino tournament began.
Fair Value — But Odd Timing
On paper, the trade looks fair. Kwekuteye is a promising combo guard who brings hustle and two-way potential. Tratter, on the other hand, is a serviceable veteran big who has bounced around teams recently but remains a legitimate interior presence.
Kwekuteye averaged 6.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.1 steals for Blackwater in the Commissioner’s Cup. While his Philippine Cup numbers dipped (3.0 points in two games), he remains an energy guy with upside.
Tratter’s numbers haven’t been eye-popping lately — he registered only a single rebound in two games this Philippine Cup. But during the last conference, he appeared in 10 games, contributing solid minutes with eight points and 11 rebounds total.
The Question Mark: NorthPort's Big Man Depth
Despite the balance in the deal, the trade is highly questionable for NorthPort, given their already shallow frontline rotation.
With Calma already gone and Tratter now shipped out, NorthPort is left with a thin group of bigs in a conference where size and interior defense matter the most. While Kwekuteye can bolster their guard rotation, it’s not as if the Batang Pier were lacking in the backcourt to begin with. Between Arvin Tolentino, Joshua Munzon, JM Ayson, and Nava, the wing and guard spots were already crowded.
In contrast, Tratter may have been underutilized, but his physicality and experience in the paint gave NorthPort a degree of flexibility — something they may now miss down the stretch.
Blackwater Wins on Need
From Blackwater's side, the trade addresses an immediate need. With a backcourt-heavy lineup and a history of being outmuscled in the paint, adding a serviceable big like Tratter gives the Bossing better balance. Tratter also brings playoff and national team experience — qualities that could help stabilize their rotation moving forward.
Final Thoughts
While the Kwekuteye-for-Tratter swap is fair in terms of value, the timing and context make it a head-scratcher for NorthPort. They just made the semifinals last conference and seemed poised to build on that momentum. But with their frontline now looking paper-thin, one has to wonder if this deal ends up hurting their chances in a conference that rewards depth in the paint.
Unless another trade is in the pipeline, NorthPort might’ve weakened their foundation in exchange for a guard they didn’t desperately need.
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