The Orlando Magic and Brooklyn Nets completed a minor deal yesterday. According to Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel, the Osceola Magic, Orlando’s G-League franchise, acquired Patrick Gardner from the Long Island Nets in exchange for forward Tre Scott.
The Osceola #Magic have acquired center Patrick Gardner from the Long Island Nets in exchange for forward Tre Scott, Osceola GM Kevin Tiller announced.
Orlando Magic and Brooklyn Nets Make Minor Trade
While a minor league trade is not usually noteworthy, a G-League deal is slightly different. Since every NBA franchise owns and operates its own G-League franchise, teams must really like a particular player with potential plans of possible promotion, whether through a 10-day deal or regular contract (standard or 2-way).
Who Is Patrick Gardner
Gardner is a 6-11 athletic big who can shoot and get to the hoop. He also does excellent work on the glass on both ends.
Gardner, who went undrafted out of Marist in 2023, signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Nets each of the last two seasons and has spent time with Long Island in each campaign. The 25-year-old center has also spent time overseas in each of the past two years and played for Egypt’s National team. He has shown improvement with Long Island in year two.
In 14 G-League Showcase games, Gardner averaged 7.6 points while shooting 48.8/17.6/87.5. Gardner has also grabbed six rebounds (1.7 offensive) a game in just 16.3 minutes of action. He has produced two double-doubles and scored in double-figures six times.
Who Is Tre Scott
Unlike Gardner, a developmental prospect, Scott is a veteran with two games of NBA experience. The 28-year-old wing has appeared in the Las Vegas summer league contests the last two years, including two games for Orlando in 2024-25.
Besides his two-game stint with the Cavaliers, Scott has spent most of his professional career in the G-League. He is a physical player who can defend multiple positions and rebound. Offensively, he is strictly a 3-point shooter, though he is not really a shooter.
Scott has really struggled this season. In 16.1 minutes over 13 appearances for Osceola, Scott averaged 5.2 points and 3.7 rebounds with a shooting split of 33.3/25.7/87.5. He scored in double-figures once.
Why The Trade Matters
To be honest, the trade has no impact on Brooklyn. The Nets weren’t high on Gardner after all, as they could have promoted him instead of trading for Reece Beekman, who is on a two-way deal as part of the Dennis Schroder trade. However, the Nets did do a fantastic job in netting him.
Orlando seemingly has plans for Gardner. The Magic has an open two-way spot, as they began the season with just Trevelin Queen and Mac McClung on those deals.
Gardner is a logical fit, as Moritz Wagner was lost for the season last week. Thus, the Magic is shorthanded upfront with four healthy power forwards or centers, including Tristan Da Silva, who is perhaps better suited for the 3. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner remain out for the foreseeable future.
Plus, Osceola (5-11) doesn’t have a lot of surefire NBA talent. Ethan Thompson, Jarrett Culver, Robert Baker Jr., and Jalen Slawson are probably their best prospects. Culver and Slawson have NBA experience, but they are more wings, and neither player has been overwhelming this season. Baker is 6-10 but is very slight, so his body might not hold up against NBA frontcourt players; plus there is a question of whether he is an NBA-type player.
Brooklyn Nets G-League Prospects
Long Island Nets finished the G-League Showcase with an Eastern Conference-worst 2-15 record. Earlier this month, the Raptors signed the 6-4 guard to a two-way deal, and Long Island lost AJ Lawson to Toronto.
Although Long Island has some offensive talent, the Nets’ problem has been on the defensive end. Kendall Brown, Amari Bailey, and perhaps Killian Hayes are the Nets’ best prospects on Long Island.
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