Sam Presti adds Payton Sandfort to a two-way deal, waiving Buddy Boeheim. The rookie sharpshooter brings shooting and rebounding to bolster the Thunder's roster.
Just when you thought the Oklahoma City Thunder were finished making any roster moves for the season, General Manager Sam Presti has another surprise up his sleeve.
OKC announced the signing of Payton Sandfort to a two-way contract on Monday afternoon. The Thunder released Buddy Boeheim from his two-way deal to add the undrafted rookie from Iowa.
Here is the announcement via the official Thunder press release:
The Oklahoma City Thunder has signed forward Payton Sandfort to a Two-Way Contract, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not released.
Sandfort (6-7, 215) has appeared in 21 games (14 starts) this season with the Oklahoma City Blue where he’s averaged 11.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 28.4 minutes per game.
During Sandfort’s senior year at Iowa (2024-25) he appeared in 33 games (all starts) and averaged 16.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 31.9 minutes per game. In 2024, Sandfort was named a second-team academic All-American selection while also receiving All-Big 10 third-team honors.
In a related move, the Thunder has waived guard Buddy Boeheim, who was signed to a Two-Way Contract on Feb. 6.
Sandfort received some mid to late second round buzz during the 2025 NBA Draft cycle. Unfortunately, the former Hawkeye dealt with two torn shoulder labrums and a fractured shooting wrist his senior year. He played through the pain but his buzzed about junior box score numbers took a hit. After he ultimately went undrafted, the Thunder signed and waived the sharpshooter in order to sign him to the OKC Blue of the G League.
The 6'7" shooting guard/small forward has solid size for a 3 point specialist, which shows up in his underrated work on the boards. Despite being a 23 year old undrafted rookie, Sandfort's shooting and rebounding are translatable NBA skills.
While two-way players cannot play in the playoffs, OKC may be able to find him some minutes down the stretch of their final 20 games. Just ask Brooks Barnhizer, Branden Carlson, Buddy Boeheim or the newest Portland Trail Blazer, Chris Youngblood.
There's a solid chance this is the Thunder's final roster before the 2026 postseason. Then again, Sam Presti does have one other sleeve.
Oklahoma City Thunder 2025-2026 Roster Update
Alex Caruso
Lu Dort
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Isaiah Hartenstein
Chet Holmgren
Isaiah Joe
Jared McCain
Ajay Mitchell
Thomas Sorber
Nikola Topic
Cason Wallace
Aaron Wiggins
Jalen Williams
Jaylin Williams
Kenrich Williams
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Brooks Barnhizer (two-way)
Branden Carlson (two-way)
Payton Sandfort (two-way)