LA Thieves Announce Departures of Nium, Scrap, and HyDra

The LA Thieves are tearing it down. The organization has officially announced the departures of Jeremiah "Nium" Harrison, Thomas "Scrap" Ernst, and Paco "HyDra" Rusiewiez, closing the book on a core that delivered a Major title, two Minor championships, and a pair of Grand Final runs in 2026, but never found the Champs breakthrough it was built to chase.

The 2026 Season

📸 Photo by @CODLeague

LA entered Black Ops 7 with sky-high expectations. The Thieves rebuilt around HyDra and Scrap, rounding out the roster with former World Champions aBeZy and Kenny, and were widely viewed as OpTic Texas's most credible challenger. The start didn't match the hype. An orgless Paris squad swept LA and G2 Minnesota at the Kickoff Invitational, and a Major I run ended in the Top 6 with back-to-back 0-3 losses to Paris and FaZe Vegas. Not long after, the org benched Kenny for Huntsmen rookie Nium.

The swap changed the season. At Major II, LA finished 4th, and then things clicked in Stage III. The Thieves won the opening Minor, beating Miami 4-2 in the Grand Final, then battled through the Lower Bracket at Major III with wins over Minnesota, Riyadh, FaZe Vegas, and Toronto to reach the Grand Final. There they outlasted OpTic Texas 4-3 in a seven-map classic for the title. Scrap closed the series with a 127-kill, 16,812-damage performance, while it marked Nium's first LAN title.

Stage IV was even better on paper. LA went a perfect 5-0 in the Major IV Qualifiers and won a second Minor, becoming the first team to win two in a single season. At the Major, they swept OpTic 3-0 in the Winners Final before losing the Grand Final 4-3 to the same opponent, in a seven-map rematch that handed OpTic its first Major title.

Then came Champs. For the second straight year, Scrap and HyDra fell short, with LA eliminated in the Top 8 after losses to Riyadh Falcons (1-3) and Minnesota (2-3). It was a brutal result for a roster built to win it all, and a particularly rough tournament for Scrap, who posted a 0.71 K/D. The Thieves salvaged some pride at the Esports World Cup, finishing 3rd after a 3-4 semifinal loss to OpTic and a 4-3 win in the Bronze Medal match.

How the Trio Performed

📸 Photo by @CODLeague

Scrap was a damage machine all year, leading the league in Hardpoint damage per 10 minutes (3,554) and topping the league in Slayer Rating (97.9) and damage rating (12,948) during the Major II Qualifiers. Overload was his showcase at the end of the year, with a 1.11 K/D during the Stage IV stretch. He finished the season 3rd in our Top 20 Players of Black Ops 7.

HyDra was among the best Search & Destroy players in the league, posting a 1.23 K/D, 0.82 kills per round, and a league-leading 6 1v2 clutches. His level rose to 1.28 on LAN, including a 1.70 SND K/D at Major II. He ranked 6th in our Top 20 and led the entire Esports World Cup with a 1.27 Hardpoint K/D.

Nium went from Challengers prospect to CDL Rookie of the Year in the same season. The AR was at his best in Overload, with 61 goals, 6 hat tricks, and one of the first four-goal games in the league. LA won 90.7% of its Hardpoints when he went positive, and he finished 16th in our Top 20.

Where They're Expected to Land

With the Thieves officially out of the picture, attention turns to the free agent market. Scrap and HyDra, widely regarded as the best AR and SMG on the market, are expected to sign together with FaZe Vegas, a destination that has been rumored for weeks. Nium, a restricted free agent, is expected to be a target for Riyadh Falcons.

None of these moves have been confirmed, and Paris Gentle Mates and Riyadh were both reportedly in the mix for Scrap and HyDra, so there is still room for a twist before Modern Warfare IV begins. Wherever they land, the trio is expected to be among the most sought-after players on the market.