The Oklahoma City Thunder have made a surprising offseason decision that’s already turning heads across the NBA, waiving promising young forward Payton Sandfort just days before Summer League action begins. For many fans, the move felt unexpected especially given Sandfort’s shooting upside and flashes of potential during his short stint with the franchise.
Oklahoma City officially moved on from Sandfort’s two-way contract on Thursday, opening up one of the team’s valuable developmental roster spots. The 23-year-old forward had spent the 2025–26 season bouncing between the Thunder and their G League affiliate, the OKC Blue, working to prove he belonged in the league.
The timing is what makes this move especially intriguing. Sandfort is still listed on Oklahoma City’s Summer League roster, meaning this waiver may not necessarily signal a complete end to his relationship with the franchise. Instead, it could simply be part of the Thunder’s constant roster juggling as they reshape their developmental pipeline heading into the new season.
For a player like Sandfort, that distinction matters. Being waived from a two-way deal sounds dramatic and sometimes it is but in today’s NBA, these roster spots can be fluid. Teams frequently release players, monitor Summer League performance, and later re-sign them if circumstances change.
Still, there’s no denying this is a setback for the former Iowa Hawkeyes men’s basketball standout, who worked hard to earn his shot in Oklahoma City after going undrafted in 2025.
Sandfort’s journey to the NBA wasn’t easy. After a productive college career at Iowa, where he developed into one of the Big Ten’s most dangerous perimeter shooters, he entered the professional ranks with questions surrounding both his athleticism and health. At 6-foot-7 and 215 pounds, Sandfort had ideal wing size, but concerns over mobility and defensive versatility caused him to slip out of the 2025 NBA Draft.
Even so, Oklahoma City saw something worth investing in.
The Thunder initially brought him into their system after the draft, then used the G League as a proving ground. That’s where Sandfort began showing why scouts had been intrigued by him in the first place. His shooting stroke remained elite, his confidence never wavered, and he gradually earned trust within the organization.
When the Thunder signed him to a two-way contract in March, it felt like validation.
At the time, Sandfort had appeared in 21 games with the OKC Blue, making 14 starts while averaging 11.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 28.4 minutes per game. Those numbers weren’t eye-popping, but they painted the picture of a versatile wing capable of spacing the floor and contributing in multiple areas.
His college résumé made that promotion easier to understand.
During his senior season at Iowa, Sandfort started all 33 games and averaged 16.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.9 assists while playing nearly 32 minutes per night. He emerged as one of the Hawkeyes’ most reliable offensive weapons, blending deep-range shooting with improved rebounding and playmaking.
That shooting touch translated quickly when he got NBA opportunities.
Although his sample size at the NBA level was small just four games Sandfort made the most of limited opportunities. He averaged 8.8 points and 2.5 rebounds, including a breakout performance in which he dropped a career-high 23 points against the Phoenix Suns while knocking down five three-pointers.
That performance gave fans something to dream about.
A 6-foot-7 wing who can shoot from anywhere on the floor will always attract attention in today’s NBA. Stretch wings are among the league’s most coveted assets, and players with Sandfort’s offensive profile often stick around longer than expected if they continue refining the defensive side of their game.
That’s where things likely became complicated for Oklahoma City.
The Thunder are no longer rebuilding they’re competing at the highest level. Roster spots are no longer reserved solely for long-term projects. Every player, even those on two-way deals, must fit immediate and future needs.
That reality may have worked against Sandfort.
Reports suggest Oklahoma City’s two-way spots are increasingly tied to newer prospects, including incoming young talent such as Otega Oweh, Josh Dix, and Brooks Barnhizer. With roster flexibility becoming crucial, Sandfort became the odd man out.
That doesn’t mean his NBA dream is fading.
Far from it.
If anything, Summer League now becomes even more important.
This upcoming stretch may serve as a live audition not just for the Thunder, but for every NBA front office watching. One strong shooting performance can change everything. A few explosive scoring nights can generate real momentum.
That’s why Sandfort’s story isn’t over.
In fact, players with similar paths have used Summer League as a launching pad to guaranteed deals, training camp invites, or fresh two-way contracts elsewhere. All it takes is one team believing the upside outweighs the risk.
And Sandfort has something teams can’t teach: elite shooting confidence.
Shooters often survive in the NBA because spacing changes games. Defenses collapse on stars, and role players who punish help defense become incredibly valuable. If Sandfort proves he can consistently knock down shots while holding his own defensively, opportunities will come.
The Thunder’s decision may simply be business, not a judgment of his ceiling.
That’s an important distinction.
Oklahoma City has earned a reputation as one of the NBA’s smartest development organizations. They routinely cycle through prospects, searching for value on the margins. Sometimes that means tough decisions on players fans like.
Sandfort is the latest example.
Now, all eyes turn to Summer League.
Will he respond with the kind of performances that force Oklahoma City or another franchise to take another look? Or will this roster move mark the beginning of a new chapter elsewhere?
For now, one thing is certain: Payton Sandfort’s basketball journey has hit another unexpected twist, and the next few weeks could determine whether this waiver becomes a temporary detour or a defining turning point in his professional career.
