PBA Trade Rumors: San Miguel and Titan trade rumors are preparing us for this?

 

🤝 The Negotiation Table: Why Titan Must Demand More Than Just Tautuaa for Joshua Munzon

The trade speculation linking Joshua Munzon of the Titan Ultra Giant Risers and Moala Tautuaa of the San Miguel Beermen is arguably the most compelling rumor of the conference. Both players have been explicitly mentioned in recent trade talks, with Titan's management openly stating they are seeking a big man for stability and that Munzon is their high-value chip.

The obvious question: Is a straight swap of Munzon for Tautuaa fair?

🥇 The Value Proposition: Munzon vs. Tautuaa

Player	Profile	Current Value
Joshua Munzon	$25$-year-old Most Improved Player (2025), two-time All-Defensive Team. Dynamic, two-way wing who is a proven Top 25 player in the league right now.	Youth, Upside, and Elite Two-Way Skill.
Moala Tautuaa	Veteran, former first overall pick, championship-level, modern center. A proven Top 10 center in the league who can space the floor.	Proven Size, System Fit, and Championship Pedigree.

On the face of it, a straight swap is a trade of young, ascending star power for proven, immediate size. While Moala Tautuaa fills Titan’s biggest need and is crucial for their championship timeline, Titan should—and must—negotiate for more.

💰 Titan’s Stance: Negotiate for the Future

Titan management must leverage the fact that they are giving up a player who is nearly a decade younger, cheaper, and has a more unique skill set than many players in the league.

Titan should demand Moala Tautuaa PLUS a versatile asset.

Specifically, Titan should negotiate to acquire Moala Tautuaa and Chris Miller for Joshua Munzon.

• Who is Chris Miller? Miller is the veteran-rookie combo guard/wing San Miguel drafted with the No. 9 pick in the 2025 PBA Draft.¹ At ²$32$ years old, Miller brings years of international experience (Bosnia, Germany, Canada) and is known as an excellent three-point shooter and a mature, versatile player who can run plays.³

• The Strategic Gain: By acquiring Miller, Titan gets:

  1. Immediate Size (Tautuaa): The top-tier center they desperately need to anchor their defense and offense.

  2. Versatile Forward (Miller): A capable, veteran bench player who can space the floor (winning the Draft Combine's 3-Point contest) and provide high-IQ minutes at the wing position, which would offset the loss of Munzon's depth.

This package—a Top 10 Center and a versatile veteran-rookie—is a much fairer return for a player widely regarded as a Top 25 talent in the PBA like Joshua Munzon. It allows Titan to achieve its goal of getting a giant center while still maintaining competitive depth in the wing rotation.

If San Miguel wants to shed Tautuaa's max salary and acquire a young talent like Munzon to pair with Anthony Edwards and their core, paying a slight premium by including a capable rotation player like Miller is a reasonable concession to make. For Titan, getting Tautuaa is non-negotiable, but maximizing the return for their star wing is essential for the future success of the franchise.

Related Article: PBA Trade Rumors: Titan superstar Joshua Munzon is on the Trade Block!