PBA Trade Rumors: Magnolia Hotshots top 3 players that they could TRADE THIS OFFSEASON!

If you want to understand how quickly honeymoon periods evaporate in the PBA, look no further than LA Tenorio’s rookie season on the Magnolia sideline.

What was supposed to be a seamless transition from legendary floor general to tactical mastermind turned into a sobering reality check. Tenorio’s inaugural year behind the bench was, by every objective metric, a monumental disappointment for a franchise accustomed to deep postseason runs. The breaking point arrived in the Season 50 Governors’ Cup quarterfinals, where Magnolia locked up the top spot in Group B only to be systematically dismantled and swept 3-0 by the TNT Tropang Giga. Averaging a double-digit losing margin across the series, Magnolia looked outcoached, outmatched, and completely lacking in counter-adjustments. Coupled with premature quarterfinal exits in both the Philippine Cup and Commissioner's Cup, Tenorio’s first year proved that simply standing pat with a veteran core will not yield hardware.

If Tenorio is going to survive and thrive in Year 2, the Magnolia front office must aggressively overhaul the roster. Here are the top three trade candidates the Hotshots could put on the block this offseason:

#3. Paul Lee

Basketball history has a funny way of repeating itself in the PBA. Back in October 2016, the franchise made one of the most famous trades in league history, shipping off an aging 34-year-old icon in James Yap to acquire a 27-year-old, in-prime Paul Lee from Rain or Shine. It was a cold, calculated move that defined Magnolia’s backcourt for nearly a decade.

Now, Magnolia finds itself on the opposite side of that exact dynamic. Lee remains a lethal perimeter threat and a clutch scorer, but at this stage of his career, his defensive limitations and heavy usage rate no longer align with the fast-paced, high-intensity system Tenorio wants to run. The Hotshots could pull off a reverse version of the James Yap deal: package the veteran Lee to a win-now contender desperate for late-game shot creation, and in return, land an in-prime star player who can anchor Magnolia’s backcourt for the next five years.

#2. Javi Gomez de Liaño

Among Magnolia’s tradeable assets, Javi Gomez de Liaño represents the ultimate "sell-high" opportunity. The 6-foot-4 wing possesses an enviable modern skill set—fluid athleticism, perimeter shooting, and positional size. Yet, under Tenorio’s rotation, Gomez de Liaño has been relegated to a spot-duty, fringe role, rarely getting the minutes or touches required to flourish.

Because rival front offices recognize his raw talent and upside, Gomez de Liaño’s league-wide market value remains significantly higher than his actual output in a Magnolia jersey. Holding onto a dynamic wing just to play him single-digit minutes is a misuse of roster capital. Flipping him now allows Magnolia to cash in on his high valuation and acquire an immediate, starting-caliber contributor who better fits Tenorio's structural needs.

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#1. James Laput

No player in the Magnolia locker room has generated more persistent trade buzz than James Laput. In a league where legitimate, 6-foot-10 domestic size is the rarest commodity, Laput’s name is permanently circled in red ink by talent-starved front offices across the PBA.

Laput has shown impressive flashes of rebounding, rim protection, and mobility, but he remains stuck behind Ian Sangalang and Zavier Lucero in Magnolia’s frontcourt hierarchy. Because multiple teams in the league are actively searching for a physical starting center, the bidding war for Laput’s services could be substantial. If Magnolia decides to move him this offseason, Laput is easily their premier trade chip—the one player capable of netting a blue-chip starting guard or a haul of high-value draft picks to jumpstart the Tenorio era.

Related Article: PBA Trade Rumors: Magnolia did not TRADE ENOUGH?