Can Any Of These Players Be Tapped As Bolt's Next Import?

The PBA has scrapped the height limit for the 2024-2025 Commissioner's Cup as it brings several changes leading up to its 50th anniversary.

League chief Willie Marcial said a few months ago that the Commissioner’s Cup will no longer observe the 6-foot-9 cap for imports, paving the way for teams to tap foreign stars previously restricted by the ceiling. At the top of the list is three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year winner Dwight Howard, who expressed interest in joining the PBA.

For the Meralco Bolts, there are several names being floated that may be considered, but that window may be closing fast. Here is a list of possible imports for the 2024 PBA All-Filipino Champions:

1. Bismack Biyombo
   Biyombo is coming off a season where he spent time with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Memphis Grizzlies.
   He finished the year with averages of 4.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per contest while shooting 56.5 percent from the field in 40 games.
   Over the offseason, Biyombo became a free agent who is available to sign with any team in the NBA.
   As of 9 September, he still remains unsigned.
   Based on the 32-year old's experience, he would make a lot of sense for the Bolts if they want to add another crown this year.
2. Moses Brown
   Brown went undrafted in the 2019 NBA draft. He joined the Houston Rockets for the 2019 NBA Summer League, but played briefly in one game.
   In September 2019, Brown signed a training camp contract with the Portland Trail Blazers, where he played in all five preseason games, averaging 5.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 6.9 minutes.
   On July 2022, he was signed by the Clippers on a two-way contract, but was eventually waived in 2023. He had been active for 50 NBA games, the limit for a two-way player, and the Clippers would have needed to sign him to an end-of-season contract to retain him.
   Brown appeared in 34 games for the Clippers and made one start, averaging 4.6 points and 4.1 rebounds while making 63.5 percent of his field goals.
   On 9 October 2024, Brown signed with the New York Knicks, but was waived the next day.
3. Ibou Dianko Badji
   After going undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft, on 3 November 2022, Badji was named to the opening night roster for the Wisconsin Herd after signing an Exhibition 10 contract.
   On 22 November 2023, Badji signed a two-way contract with the Portland Trail Blazers. The Senegalese made his NBA debut for the Trail Blazers in a 130–113 win over the Sacramento Kings on 26 December and two days later, he put up 7 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks in 14 minutes of action in a 118–105 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
   On 12 September 2024, Badji signed with the Milwaukee Bucks, but was waived the same day.
   Badji represented Senegal at the 2019 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup in Heraklion, Greece. He averaged 6.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game, which ranked second in the tournament, as his team finished in 15th place.
4. Malik Wiliams
   After going undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft, Williams signed with Anwil Włocławek of the Polish Basketball League on January 2023.
   Williams later joined the Sioux Falls Skyforce as a tryout player, but was waived on November 2023. A few days later, he re-joined the Skyforce where he played 33 games and averaged 11.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 23.2 minutes.
   On 3 April 3, 2024, Williams signed a 10-day contract with the Toronto Raptors, which was later extended for the rest of the season.
   On 11 September 2024, Williams signed with the Miami Heat, but was waived the next day.
5. Luka Šamanić
   On 20 April 2019, Šamanić declared his entry into the 2019 NBA draft and became one of a record-high 58 international prospects to declare entry that year.
   Šamanić later entered the 2019 NBA Draft Combine as one of 77 total participants, where he was picked 19th overall by the San Antonio Spurs.
   On 13 August 2020, Šamanić recorded 16 points and 6 rebounds in a 112–118 loss to the Utah Jazz, on his first NBA game as a starter.
   On 5 August 2024, Šamanić signed with Fenerbahçe Beko of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi. The club later announced that the 6-foot-10 Forward/Center went home to Croatia for personal reasons.
   On 13 September 2024, Fenerbahçe Beko followed up with the announcement that the club has terminated the contract of the player, by mutual consent, while still holding the rights for him for the 2024–25 Basketbol Süper Ligi season, thus ending his 40-day tenure with the club.