The Utah Black Diamonds traded away Tyson McGuffin to the Orlando Squeeze in exchange for Jay Devilliers and $50,000, less than a week after the 2024 MLP Draft.
New Rosters
Why This Trade Happened
The Black Diamonds had one of the most horrific drafts in MLP history on Tuesday night, probably only bested by the Atlanta Bouncers in MLP 2023 Season 2. Tyson McGuffin has an ongoing feud with Tyler Loong and according to Jimmy Miller, podcaster and President of the California Black Bears, Tyson demanded a trade away from that team and refused to play with Loong.
McGuffin explains what happened between he and Loong.
— The Dink Pickleball (@Pickleball) September 7, 2023
Additional footage of Loong bowing to McGuffin. What does he mean by that? pic.twitter.com/tTCS3S5JW0
Winners of This Trade
- The biggest winner here is McGuffin. If he truly has such a disdain for Loong that he would have refused to play, this makes it possible for McGuffin to play MLP, where he is normally very good. He also goes to a much better team on paper and gets to play with Fed again, who he teamed up with in 2023 on the Miami Pickleball Club.
- Jay Devilliers is also a winner here. He goes to a team with Callie Smith, who he plays regularly with in PPA events. He is more familiar with this team and can take over that dominant left-side guy role.
- Both teams win. The Squeeze get better and had to send $50,000 to the Black Diamonds. The Black Diamonds win because if they couldn’t pull off this trade, they would have had a miserable Tyson McGuffin playing for them, which would have ended poorly.
- Lastly, Vulcan is a winner here as well. The paddle manufacturer’s two biggest players are Loong and Devilliers, and they are now playing for the same MLP team.
