Noseworthy plus a fourth-round pick in 2022 lands Bandits a first in 2024

Brent Noseworthy, Buffalo Bandits (Photo: Joe Hrycych)

Less than 24 hours before Tuesday’s National Lacrosse League trade deadline, the Buffalo Bandits and New York Riptide pulled the trigger on a deal that sees the Bandits sending Brent Noseworthy and a 2022 fourth-round pick to the Riptide for a first-round pick in the 2024 NLL Draft.

Selected 12th overall in 2019, Noseworthy played seven games for the Bandits during the pandemic shortened season and had appeared in eight of Buffalo’s eleven games this winter.

The 2019 draft was the Riptide franchise’s first, the team selecting Tyson Gibson with the top overall selection, as well as Tyson Bomberry two spots ahead of Noseworthy.

“We have heard nothing but good things about Brent and the competitive edginess he plays with,” Riptide General Manager Jim Veltman said in a team statement of the 6’4”, 220 lbs. newly acquired Noseworthy. “We are bigger and better with him in our lineup.”

The Bandits, who have arguably been this year’s best team sitting 10-1 and at the top of the NLL standings, have a number of first-round picks over the next three drafts. The team will draft twice in 2022, owning the Toronto Rock’s first round pick through the Mitch de Snoo swap, in addition to their own. Buffalo still owns their own 2023 first, plus now two in 2024.

Leading up to Tuesday’s NLL trade deadline (12pm ET), the Rochester Knighthawks had traded Shawn Evans to the Halifax Thunderbirds for a future first- and second-round draft selection last week.

Most are waiting to see what Saskatchewan Rush GM, Derek Keenan, does with a lengthy list of high profile unrestricted free agents, including Kyle Rubisch, Chris Corbeil, Ryan Dilks and Jeff Shattler. Cup favourites prior to the start of this season, the Rush look increasingly unlikely to land a playoff spot this year. The team is currently just 3-8.