CHICAGO - When the news crawled out of the headlines around 4 p.m. on Wednesday in Manila, it was only 1 a.m. Wednesday in Los Angeles.
According to his camp, Mikey Williams "didn't know" that his PBA signing rights were being traded to Converge for Jordan Heading and neither was he given the courtesy of a heads-up about what was going down.
READ Heading learns about trade straight from Converge owner Dennis Uy
Just like that, the 25-month contractual impasse that was impaired by angst and distrust from both sides, had reached its predictable ending.
A complicated but necessary divorce.
Only time will tell - and it will take a ton of sands on the hourglass - which team got the better of this swap, but TNT has the edge coming out of the gates.
JORDAN THE SAVIOR?
As they try to salvage a perilous grand slam bid, the Tropang 5G got a hybrid point guard in Heading who can run the team's potent offense in the absence of the injured Jayson Castro and Rey Nambatac.
While a back injury will delay his TNT debut by "a game or two," the expectation is that he will play this conference," Heading told me in a telephone interview on Wednesday night.
Unfortunately for the Fil-Aussie, he wasn't just acquired by another team. He was specifically targeted to fill the need of a team desperately seeking a triple crown. But he is impervious to all the high stakes.
"I haven't even thought about any pressure just yet. It's still new news. But at the moment, everyday I'm just locked in on my rehab and trying to get back on the court as soon as possible but at the same time not rushing. That's what's on my mind."
As for Converge, this trade was just the proverbial first step in a million miles journey.
So don't expect the FiberXers to be rushing that newly stitched Williams jersey anytime soon.
Per a Converge official, the 1-on-1 swap isn't official just yet, but once the league approves the deal, they will then negotiate with the two-time PBA champion and two-time Finals MVP.
LET'S MAKE A DEAL.
The challenge here is to agree on a price point, something TNT couldn't accomplish inside of two years.
Over at TNT, Mikey was making $26,000 a month including perks and bonuses. He allegedly asked for a $2,000 a month raise and a hefty signing bonus that turned foff TNT and ultimately forced their hands on a trade.
Williams, multiple sources told me, won't be paid anything close to $26,000 a month at Converge. What he will get is a decent salary that will increase exponentially once he regains his form and reestablishes himself as one of the league's elite players.
It's still a much better proposition than where Mikey was yesterday when his rights were being held and his playing future in limbo.
In the end, Mikey Williams could emerge as the biggest winner this drama.
Having said that, I can't wait to circle the calendar on the first playing date between TNT and Converge with Mikey on it.
Maybe he'll drop 50 just to say hello to TNT team manager Jojo Lastimosa.
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