In the midst of a lengthy off-season, the HLTV editors have been busy sharing their thoughts on the best and worst transfers since the new CS:GO patch. Due to the extensive content, the article is split into two parts. The first part covers the top transfers, while the second delves into the worst ones.
Here’s the second part:
Striker’s Pick for Worst Transfer: Emil Reif | Magisk joining Falcons
Picking out Magisk amidst the chaos surrounding Falcons might seem harsh, as he was not the only one affected by the team’s turmoil. However, the Dane was the first player to commit to joining Danny Sørensen | zonic at Falcons, leaving Vitality, which continued to perform well without him. If Nikola Kovač | NiKo hadn’t rejected signing at the last minute, the outcome could have been different, but the reality is that Falcons’ performance post-IEM Katowice was disastrous.
Ner0’s Choice for Worst Transfer: Incompatible Astralis
Anyone who watched Astralis and HEROIC in 2023 would tell you how painful it was to see stavn and blameF together. Both had similar playstyles on defense and sought to fill a support role on offense, but their vastly differing perspectives on the game were the main issue. While stavn emphasized teamwork and mid-round control, blameF’s focus was more on individual performance. jabbi, who joined alongside stavn, further complicated the team dynamic, leaving Staehr with the less desirable tasks.
After blameF’s departure, stavn and jabbi adjusted their roles, resulting in improved performances: stavn’s rating increased to 1.29 on defense and 1.12 on offense, while jabbi’s ratings were 1.13 on defense and 1.19 on offense, demonstrating the benefits of change.
Sumljiv’s Choice for Worst Transfer: Casper Møller | cadiaN to Liquid
cadiaN’s tenure at Liquid ended after just half a year, with the team failing to embrace his tactical vision. The integration seemed endless, leading to an eventual split. Alongside cadiaN, coach zews was also let go, nullifying their efforts over the past six months. cadiaN’s value took a hit, making it challenging for him to find a top-tier team, potentially leaving him on the sidelines for the remainder of the season.
MIRRA’s Pick for Worst Transfer: G2 Releasing Justin Savage | jks and Signing Nemanja Isaković | nexa
Suffering from a lack of firepower, G2 decided to replace their primary AWP jks with a more supportive player, nexa, a move that quickly proved unsuccessful. G2’s handling of jks was also perplexing, adding to the team’s pressure. The first half of the year confirmed that the addition of nexa did not live up to expectations, culminating in his departure during the summer break.
stich’s Pick for Worst Transfer: Nexa’s Return to G2
On my shortlist for worst transfers are cadiaN to Liquid, gla1ve to ENCE (despite early promise), and the entire Falcons project. However, G2 re-signing nexa deserves the title. In Dante’s Inferno, the Eighth Circle, or Malebolge, is where deceivers are punished; if there was a corresponding scene in de_inferno, it would be nexa getting relentlessly burned by molotovs on the A-site. That’s how many fans remember his time back at G2.
Draik’s Pick for Worst Transfer: gla1ve — A Dane Among Four Poles
It’s hard to find a more time-consuming endeavor this season than legendary CS commander gla1ve joining ENCE. Taking charge of a roster on the brink in late 2023, and then persisting with four Polish players in 2024 defied logic. While reaching the quarterfinals at IEM Katowice exceeded expectations, ENCE failed to produce any noteworthy results in the following months. Seeing a once-aspirational organization utilize gla1ve like this only adds to the disappointment, especially for those who believe his prime is behind him.
Nohte’s Pick for Worst Transfer: Magisk’s Biggest Regret
Falcons’ disastrous performance was disappointing in multiple aspects, particularly for Magisk and his 2024 career. It’s fair to assume he hoped for a blockbuster signing like NiKo or another superstar. However, the management’s failure to close these deals left the team struggling. Considering Vitality continued winning without him, Magisk’s move seems even more bitter. Representing Falcons offline, Magisk achieved a 1.05 rating compared to his 1.14 in his final six months with Vitality. Given the chance, Magisk might have chosen differently, with staying at Vitality being the safer option.
Lucas Aznar Miles’ Pick for Worst Transfer: G2’s Shakeup Backfires
G2’s decision to bench jks initially caused a stir in the community, as it seemed unnecessary from the outside. The move was seen as a like-for-like swap, but it carried risks, as evidenced by nexa’s underwhelming stint at G2. Compounding the issue, G2 let go of a champion in jks, who won both IEM Katowice and IEM Cologne with them. With nexa’s previous incompatibility with G2, the outcome seemed predictable from the start.