While the US got a basketball player that can't stop being high for too long to not risk a foriegn prison.
Apparently, the US also wanted an ex-marine but looks like he was left to rot for the virtue signal. I doubt Viktor's contacts are still active after nearly a decade but it's more showing that being loyal to Russia means they will get you back eventually is good PR for them.
Edit: Thought I'd add this on as credit to MagnumRabbits who brought up something that I overlooked. What are the two things Russia is having issues with:
Weapons supply
Sanctions and embargoes
This man, just this man if he still has his golden touch, could negate a lot of the impact for BOTH of these issues, Biden just traded Russia's Oppenheimer for a knock-off LeBron James.
Not surprised but this is ridiculous
A country that prosecutes its own citizens for having more than 10 rounds just traded the most famous weapon dealer in history, whose sold STA Missles for a pothead (which is still a class 1 drug and federally illegal).
What is the justification? Virtue signaling?
The same reason Obama pardoned “Chelsea” Bradley Manning, but not Snowden or Assange. This is entirely pandering, this “WNBA star” no one has heard of before her arrest took priority over a US marine. It’s beyond disgusting
The dude was the tallest WNBA player ever, this gives him a lot of adventage and he used it to a good effect. It's just that nobody cares about WNBA in general.