The Thunder have waived swingman Payton Sandfort, the team announced today. He had been on a two-way deal.
Sandfort signed his two-way contract with Oklahoma City in March after spending most of the season with the team’s G League affiliate. The 6’7″ guard/forward, a former Iowa standout, appeared in just four NBA games for the Thunder but got a chance to play big minutes at the end of the season after the team had clinched the West’s No. 1 seed. He scored 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting in the regular season finale vs. Phoenix.
In 25 NBAGL outings for the Oklahoma City Blue, Sandfort averaged 10.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 28.0 minutes per game, with a shooting line of .374/.333/.833.
Cutting Sandfort will leave Oklahoma City with three open two-way slots, though all of those openings may be spoken for. The team has a two-way qualifying offer out to Brooks Barnhizer, reportedly agreed to a two-way deal with undrafted free agent Josh Dix, and might also have a two-way deal earmarked for second-round pick Otega Oweh.
Sandfort is listed on the Summer League roster that the Thunder just announced, so it’s possible he’ll return to the Blue next season even if he’s no longer under contract with the NBA team.