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His long journey took him from the Division III JUCO ranks through Division II hoops and eventually to Marist. It even took him as far as this summer’s FIBA World Cup. And now, to the G League Long Island Nets. “Well, that’s a great thing you just brought up, because I do remember when coach Cluess did say that about me,” Gardner told Sports+ with a wry smile. “I’m trying to focus on the moment, but sometimes, when you think about how far you’ve come — just after practice or on the bus or something — you kind of think about how grateful you are to [be here], that I’m in a position like this and how far I’ve come. But it wasn’t easy, and there’s still a long way to go.”
Jon Chepkevich: Marist center, Patrick Gardner, has agreed to join the Miami Heat for NBA Summer League, his agent @GeorgeLangberg of GSL Sports Group tells me. The near 7-footer averaged 19.1 PTS, 6.6 REB, 2.0 AST, 1.0 BLK this season, earning All-MAAC honors + a Portsmouth Invitational nod.
Jason Dumas: Full list of players who will work out for the Warriors on Wednesday. •Brandin Podziemski (Santa Clara) •Colby Jones (Xavier) •Terquavion Smith (NC State) •Jake Stephens (Chattanooga) •Patrick Gardner (Marist) •Omari Moore (San Jose State)
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Be sure about this: If the Pistons wind up drafting one of the two players it's assumed Van Gundy hopped the pond to study – Mario Hezonja of Croatia and Kristaps Porzingis of Latvia – they'll be comfortable every appropriate question that leads to the conclusion he's their best option will have been asked and answered. Bower, whose experience with European players goes back to his early days as a Marist assistant coach when Rik Smits was recruited to play there from Netherlands, says the NBA has learned much about the evaluation process by experience. "The comparisons are much easier to make and the levels of competition are much easier to round off today more so than 10 to 15 years ago," he said.
Bower, 53, adds another element. He was a coach last season at Marist before named in early June the Pistons GM. A former assistant general manager with the New Orleans Hornets, Bower said he has known Smith for years, through his association with Van Gundy, and did not consider his hiring a threat. “When Stan talked to me, I thought he was the perfect guy because he embodies everything that the developmental league is all about,” Bower said. “He’s great for this. It (the NBA-D League) is about getting the best out of guys.”
Among the top candidates expected to be interviewed are former Portland general manager Kevin Pritchard, Mark Warkentien, the former Denver GM who is working for the Knicks on an interim basis to help with the draft, former Hornets GM Jeff Bower, who used to coach at Marist College, Knicks assistant GM Allan Houston, former Cavaliers GM Danny Ferry and former Nets president Kiki Vandeweghe.
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