New Jersey 5s and Miami Pickleball Club Trade: The New Jersey 5s and Miami Pickleball Club made a major trade on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, just before the trade deadline. Miami Pickleball Club traded Craig Johnson and cash to the New Jersey 5s in exchange for Noe Khlif. The move could change how both teams finish the Major League Pickleball season.
The league also announced that the trade deadline has been moved. Originally set for Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET, it will now close on Monday, July 21, at noon ET. The change was made to give teams more time to adjust to new updates shared earlier this week.
Trade Details
According to the official Major League Pickleball announcement, Craig Johnson and cash were sent to the New Jersey 5s. In return, the Miami Pickleball Club received Noe Khlif.
This move changes both teams’ player lineups, especially as the season nears its end.
New Jersey 5s roster now includes:
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Men: Noe Khlif, Zane Navratil, Will Howells
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Women: Anna Leigh Waters, Meghan Dizon, Mari Humberg
Miami Pickleball Club roster now includes:
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Men: Craig Johnson, Jay Devilliers, Yuta Funemizu
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Women: Milan Rane, Mya Bui, Ava Ignatowich
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Deadline Moved After League Update
The other big change came from the league’s front office. In a new statement, Major League Pickleball explained why the trade deadline was moved.
“This was an effort to allow teams to strategize around recently shared league operations updates,” the league said.
These updates seem to be related to this week’s earlier announcement. That news confirmed that only the 2025 Challenger Level champion will move up to the Premier Level in 2026. Before this, it was expected that all Challenger Level teams would be promoted in 2026 or 2027.
Now, the league will wait until the 2027 season to combine the Challenger and Premier Levels into one.
What This Means Going Forward
This trade and the delayed deadline give teams more time to make smart choices. For the New Jersey 5s, adding Craig Johnson and extra cash could help build a stronger lineup. For the Miami Pickleball Club, getting Noe Khlif may bring new energy to their team.
The rule change also adds pressure to win now. Only one Challenger team will move up in 2026, so each trade and match could decide the future of a team’s place in the league.
News in Brief: New Jersey 5s and Miami Pickleball Club Trade
The New Jersey 5s traded Noe Khlif to the Miami Pickleball Club for Craig Johnson and cash on July 16, 2025. Major League Pickleball also extended the trade deadline to July 21, giving teams more time to adjust after announcing that only the 2025 Challenger champion will move to the Premier Level.
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