"Should have left him in Russian prison" - Twitter users lash out at Brittney Griner after 'death merchant' swapped for her returns to arms dealing (PO)

Viktor Bout, the arms dealer who was swapped for WNBA star Brittney Griner for her release in 2022, is reportedly back to his old ways. Fans weren’t happy with the outcome of the prisoner swap as the “Merchant of Death” is allegedly dealing arms with the Houthi rebels.

Griner was arrested and imprisoned in Russia in February 2022 for drug smuggling charges. The US government made a deal to swap prisoners in exchange for the freedom of the Phoenix Mercury player in December of the same year. Almost two years after the swap, Bout is reportedly back doing his usual business.

The New York Post shared the report that Bout is dealing with the “rebels attacking Israel and merchant ships in the Middle East.” The Yemen-based group reportedly arranged a $10 million deal with the Merchant of Death. The Wall Street Journal reported that the deal included automatic weapons.

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Fans weren’t happy with the outcome and lashed out at the WNBA star.

“That dude who sucks at basketball, we should have left him in the Russian prison bad swap!” a fan said on X (formerly Twitter).

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“Let’s trade them back,” another fan said.
“I wouldn’t have traded Michael Jordan for Viktor. He’s BEYOND dangerous,” a fan said.
Other fans also can’t get over the prisoner swap from 2022.

“Dumbest trade ever,” one fan said.

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“Worse than the paul pierce and kg to the nets trade,” another fan compared the Brooklyn Nets’ 2013 trade.
“I think we lost this trade,” a fan said.
Brittney Griner joined another professional league following the WNBA season
The Mercury failed to have a promising finish to their WNBA season. During the postseason, Brittney Griner and her team were swept in the first round against the Minnesota Lynx. Following the season, Griner joined a different professional league while the offseason was underway.

Griner joined the “Unrivaled” league, a professional basketball league that will start its inaugural season in January 2025.

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The nine-time All-Star was the 24th player announced by the league, joining other WNBA stars. Angel Reese, Marina Mabrey, Kelsey Plum and more stars of the league will play for the “Unrivaled” league.

Brittney Griner is coming off an All-Star season for the Mercury. She put up 17.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists. She played 30 games and was a significant factor in the team’s system. In the playoffs, she only appeared in two games and put up 17.0 points and 5.5 rebounds.