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🚨 BUBL TRADE GRADES
💜 PULSE ACQUIRES: Brandon Christenson
🦅 ELEVATION ACQUIRES: Malachi Redman
This feels like a classic fit-for-fit swap between two teams that have already spent the first half reshaping their identities.
💜 PULSE — A-
Pulse has quietly become one of the more intriguing teams in the league, and Brandon Christenson makes a lot of sense for what they're building.
With Andrew Calderone commanding so much attention inside and Jeville Harry and Jacob White capable of attacking the paint, Pulse benefits from having another guard who can play off those guys rather than needing the basketball constantly. Brandon gives them another perimeter option, some shooting, and a player who can slot naturally into their rotation.
There's also something to be said for Pulse continuing to refine the roster around its emerging core. They already turned Andre Araujo into Jacob White earlier in the season. Now they're moving Malachi—who has had a relatively limited role—for a player who could potentially give them more immediate help on the perimeter.
Why I like it: Pulse isn't trying to collect talent. They're trying to build a roster that makes sense around Calderone, Jeville and White.
GRADE: A-
🦅 ELEVATION — B+
Another trade?!
At this point, Alex Warda might need to start handing out name tags before games. 😂
But there is logic here.
Elevation's roster has undergone a massive transformation, and Malachi Redman gives them another young, athletic piece to work with as they continue leaning into a bigger, more physical identity.
Andre Araujo, Dilan Atanga and Frankie Benneh Jr. already changed the complexion of this team. Adding Malachi gives Elevation another player who can bring energy and athleticism without necessarily requiring a large offensive role.
The reason for the lower grade is purely based of the contributions. Things could very well change for both players, as we've seen how players who've recently relocated have flourished under their new roles on new teams.
Why I like it: Malachi fits the athletic, defensive-minded roster Elevation appears to be constructing.
GRADE: B+
👻 PHANTOM'S VERDICT
Pulse gets the cleaner fit. Elevation takes another swing at upside.
Neither team gave up a centerpiece, so this isn't the kind of trade that's going to completely rewrite the Power Rankings overnight. But for two teams sitting in the bottom half of the standings and trying to find the right combination before the playoffs, it's exactly the kind of move worth making.
Pulse gets another perimeter piece around its emerging core.
Elevation gets younger and more athletic while continuing one of the most aggressive midseason roster renovations we've seen in the BUBL.
Pulse: A-
Elevation: B+
And somewhere inside Stronach Community Centre, the Phantom is running out of erasers for Elevation's depth chart. 👻
