JP Erram (left) will bring his shot-swatting prowess to NLEX, which surrendered its two first-round rookies this year to Blackwater. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
It took a few more minor modifications but NLEX will finally get its hands on a prized big man that the team badly needs.
The PBA commissioner’s office finally approved a trade that will send Gilas Pilipinas standout JP Erram from Blackwater to the Road Warriors in exchange for two promising rookies.
The three-team trade had Blackwater acquiring the rights to big man Philip Paredes from TNT KaTropa in exchange for the 2022 second round pick the Elite drew from San Miguel Beer as part of the Paul Zamar swap.
The Elite then shipped Erram and Paredes to NLEX in exchange for first-round draft picks Paul Desiderio and Abu Tratter and the vastly-improved Michael Miranda, who Road Warriors coach Yeng Guiao had developed into a bruising defender and a stretch 5.
The Elite then shipped Miranda to TNT, which got a big man it badly needed, in exchange for Alfrancis Tamsi and the KaTropa’s 2022 second round pick.
A source said the committee that approves trades made slight adjustments to the deal so that Blackwater gets more than just a pair of high-profile rookies for Erram, who has had a breakout season with the Elite that earned him a stint with the national team.
Erram was one of the marquee big men in the Philippine Cup, averaging 14.1 points, 13.8 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game.
With the acquisition of Desiderio and Tratter and if the Elite gets to sign its top pick, Ray Parks, Blackwater can build a very young core that will include forward Mac Belo and shooter Mike DiGregorio. But Blackwater will have to draw a lot from bigs Reymar Jose, James Sena and Dave Marcelo to make up for the absence of the 6-foot-7 Erram gone.
Under the radar though in that three-team trade was TNT’s acquisition of Miranda, who had evolved into a quality big man under Guiao. Miranda gives the KaTropa a serviceable big man to match up with the likes of June Mar Fajardo and the San Miguel Beermen and Greg Slaughter and the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings.