--- title: "Thunder Waive Payton Sandfort" description: "Oklahoma City clears two-way slots to pursue higher-upside developmental talent, ending Sandfort’s brief tenure despite a 23-point finale. Two open two-way contracts now available for Dix and Barnhizer." url: https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/thunder-waive-payton-sandfort-96d7ee56 published: 2026-07-02T19:37:35.607+00:00 updated: 2026-07-02T19:37:35.607+00:00 author: "Kostadin Stamboliev" publisher: "Pineido" site: "Sportopod" language: en topics: ["basketball"] --- # Thunder Waive Payton Sandfort > Oklahoma City clears two-way slots to pursue higher-upside developmental talent, ending Sandfort’s brief tenure despite a 23-point finale. Two open two-way contracts now available for Dix and Barnhizer. The Oklahoma City Thunder have waived swingman Payton Sandfort, freeing up two-way roster space ahead of free agency. Sandfort, who signed a two-way deal in March, logged 11 G League appearances and one NBA game before dropping 23 points in the season finale. His departure clears the path for Oklahoma City to pursue higher-upside developmental talent like Josh Dix and Brooks Barnhizer. Oklahoma City’s move reflects a calculated roster strategy. Two-way contracts are capped at two per team, and the Thunder are prioritizing upside and roster flexibility over late-season production. Sandfort’s brief tenure included flashes in the G League but ultimately fell short of securing a long-term role. The Thunder’s front office has shown a pattern of cycling through two-way players quickly when upside targets emerge, a trend that continued here despite Sandfort’s season-ending outburst. The Thunder’s decision arrives as they finalize plans for free agency and the Summer League roster. Otega Oweh remains in the mix, while the Oklahoma City Blue will look to Sandfort’s replacement to bolster developmental depth. The timing aligns with the league’s annual two-way contract reshuffling, where teams often make room for players with clearer developmental ceilings. Thunder GM Sam Presti has repeatedly emphasized developmental upside in two-way signings. The organization’s willingness to move on from Sandfort underscores that philosophy, even after his season-ending outburst. Presti’s approach prioritizes long-term projectability over short-term impact, a strategy that has defined Oklahoma City’s roster-building under his tenure. The waiver clears two roster spots, but the Thunder’s flexibility extends beyond Sandfort alone. The organization has been aggressive in using two-way contracts as a proving ground for undrafted players and late bloomers, a system that has produced role players like Lindy Waters III. This move signals that Oklahoma City is doubling down on that model, targeting players with higher ceilings than Sandfort demonstrated in his limited NBA exposure. Sources close to the situation note that Dix and Barnhizer are expected to sign two-way deals within the next two weeks, pending medicals and contract finalizations. Their additions would give the Thunder four two-way players for the Summer League, a roster construction that balances experience with developmental upside. The shift toward Dix and Barnhizer signals a specific focus on defensive versatility and playmaking that Sandfort, primarily a shooter, did not offer at an NBA level. Oklahoma City’s roster construction relies on finding multi-positional wings who can slide into a switch-heavy scheme, and the new targets fit that mold better than the departing Iowa product. By pivoting now, the Thunder avoid wasting a roster spot on a specialist when the market offers players with broader utility for a championship-contending core. This transaction also highlights the cold calculus of the NBA’s margins. A 23-point outburst usually buys a player goodwill, but in the Thunder’s asset-management machine, it is merely data. The front office values trajectory over isolated results, meaning Sandfort’s explosion was viewed as a ceiling check rather than a foundation. As the offseason approaches, Oklahoma City is treating these two-way slots as venture capital investments—high risk, high reward—and Sandfort simply did not offer the potential return that Dix and Barnhizer promise. ## Why this matters Roster construction is a ruthless puzzle. By cutting Sandfort, the Thunder are freeing up two-way slots to lock in their preferred developmental talent, prioritizing upside and roster flexibility over a late-season feel-good story. The move underscores a broader trend in the NBA where teams are increasingly willing to sacrifice short-term production for long-term projectability, even when that production comes in the form of a 23-point outlier. ## Frequently asked ### Why did the Thunder waive Payton Sandfort? The Thunder waived Sandfort to clear roster space for two-way deals targeting higher-upside developmental players like Josh Dix and Brooks Barnhizer. ### What was Sandfort’s final performance with the Thunder? Sandfort scored 23 points in the season finale, his lone standout outing during a two-way stint that lasted just weeks. ### Who are the Thunder’s new two-way targets? Josh Dix and Brooks Barnhizer are the primary two-way targets Oklahoma City is pursuing to fill the cleared roster spots. ### How many two-way contracts does the Thunder now have open? The Thunder created at least two open two-way slots by waiving Sandfort, though the exact number depends on other roster moves. ### What does this say about the Thunder’s roster philosophy? The move reinforces the Thunder’s preference for developmental upside over short-term production, a strategy that has defined their roster-building under Sam Presti. ### When will Dix and Barnhizer likely sign? Sources indicate Dix and Barnhizer are expected to sign two-way deals within the next two weeks, pending medicals and contract finalizations. ## Sources & Citations - [Thunder Waive Payton Sandfort](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/07/thunder-waive-payton-sandfort.html) — Hoops Rumors (2026-07-02) --- Cite: Thunder Waive Payton Sandfort. Sportopod, 2026-07-02. https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/thunder-waive-payton-sandfort-96d7ee56