New Jersey 5s Land Federico Staksrud in Blockbuster Trade

Your New Jersey 5s didn't come to the Major League Pickleball trade deadline to window shop. On Monday, the 5s landed Federico Staksrud and Milan Rane from the Orlando Squeeze, sending Martin Emmrich, Lina Padegimaite, and a hefty amount of cash the other way. With a per-player maximum of $200,000, New Jersey could have put up as much as $400,000 to get this deal done. They paid to win. Simple as that.

Here's the context that makes this trade matter. The 5s have been one of the best teams in MLP all season, but the St. Louis Shock has had their number lately, sweeping New Jersey at the Mid-Season Tournament and holding a 2-1 edge in head-to-head matchups. Most people had St. Louis penciled in as the playoff favorite before this deal. Adding a player like Staksrud changes that math. GM Ryan Harwood said it plainly: when you get a shot at players like "Fed and Milly," you have to take it seriously.

The new roster does give the coaching staff something to figure out. New Jersey now has three high-end men's players in Staksrud, Noe Khlif, and Will Howells, so lineup decisions in men's and mixed doubles are going to be interesting. Harwood isn't tipping his hand on the details, but made clear both Khlif and Howells are staying for a reason. Khlif has been borderline untouchable in mixed doubles this year alongside Anna Leigh Waters, the two of them going 23-3 together. There's no shortage of options here.

New Jersey has one regular season event left, MLP Orlando from July 30 through August 2, and St. Louis will be on the other side of the bracket. If both teams do what they're supposed to do, we could get one more crack at that rivalry before the playoffs even start. With this roster, the 5s aren't just hoping to compete for a title. They're expecting to.