Center Patrick Gardner is being waived by the Nets, per Brian Lewis of The New York Post (Twitter link).
Brooklyn had initially signed the 25-year-old to a reported Exhibit 10 contract earlier this week. Should they impress in training camp, Exhibit 10 signings can see their deals converted into two-way contracts ahead of the start of the regular season. It appears that may never have been the plan here.
Last year, the 6’11” big man inked the same training camp deal and was quickly waived after going undrafted out of Marist. He spent the 2023/24 season with Brooklyn’s G League affiliate club, the Long Island Nets. Across 28 Showcase Cup and regular season bouts, Gardner averaged 7.7 points on .500/.364/.731 shooting splits, along with 5.1 rebounds a night.
It seems quite likely he is bound for the same fate with Long Island again this season as an affiliate player, Lewis notes. Should he sign with the Long Island Nets and stay rostered for at least 60 days, Gardner will become eligible for a bonus worth up to $77.5K.
Gardner also signed on to play for Basketball Africa League champions Petro de Luanda of Angola in August, so he’ll have his hands full when it comes to pro options this year.