Stirtz, Sandfort and Dix all on OKC roster

Zstatman

Zstatman

Well-Known Member
I see this morning that Josh Dix has been signed to as a UFA by OKC to a two-way contract.

This means that he, Bennet Stirtz, and Payton Sandfort should all be on the OKC Vegas summer league team in July.

I'd guess this will get a lot of press, 3 ex-Hawks playing together.
 
Zstatman said:
I see this morning that Josh Dix has been signed to as a UFA by OKC to a two-way contract.

This means that he, Bennet Stirtz, and Payton Sandfort should all be on the OKC Vegas summer league team in July.

I'd guess this will get a lot of press, 3 ex-Hawks playing together.
Click to expand...

COOL

Hope we can get some of the games

Will be fun to watch
 
Zstatman said:
I see this morning that Josh Dix has been signed to as a UFA by OKC to a two-way contract.

This means that he, Bennet Stirtz, and Payton Sandfort should all be on the OKC Vegas summer league team in July.

I'd guess this will get a lot of press, 3 ex-Hawks playing together.
Click to expand...
What are the odds that all 3 would be on the active roster at the same time?
 
Hawkboys said:
What are the odds that all 3 would be on the active roster at the same time?
Click to expand...

I would say the odds are low. Although, I did see today that OKC traded one of their young shaptshooters> I Isaia Joe, to the Detroit Pistons for two second round picks. So, a spot has opened up.
 
Shuffling the back end of their roster, the Oklahoma City Thunder made another offseason move. They waived Payton Sandfort on Thursday. He was previously on one of their three two-way spots. That said, he remains with the organization as he's on their 2026 NBA Summer League roster.

The Thunder added Sandfort as a 2025 undrafted rookie. He spent four collegiate seasons at Iowa from 2021-25. Alas, he missed all of last year's offseason and then some when he underwent double-shoulder surgery. Eventually, he suited up for the G League's OKC Blue.

The Thunder added Sandfort to a two-way deal in Mar. 2026. He averaged 8.8 points and 2.5 rebounds in four games last season. The 23-year-old is viewed as a sharpshooter. And even though he's no longer on OKC's 18-player roster, it looks like they're still interested in giving him some developmental runway.

Next step, the Thunder will play at least seven games in the 2026 Summer League from July 4-19. Perhaps if Sandfort shows enough during the event, he'll be brought back in their G League affiliate.

The Thunder already have two of their three two-way spots occupied with Brooks Barnhizer and Josh Dix. The former is on a two-way qualifying offer tender. The latter was reportedly added after he went undrafted following the 2026 NBA draft. Odds are, the third slot will be for Otega Oweh. He was taken with the No. 41 pick of this past draft class.
 
Saw the below on a list of top rookie performers from the first few summer league games.

All 3 loged 20 minutes. Payton didn't shoot well but was in double figures. Dix didn't shoot much but his stats were good.

Brendan Hausen played against these guys, played only 2 minutes but made his only 3 for 3 points.

Bennett Stirtz, Oklahoma City Thunder​

Stirtz tallied 10 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds and 3 steals while shooting 3-of-6 from the field, 2-of-3 from 3-point range and 1-of-1 from the free throw line.

The 22-year-old was the No. 16 pick in this year's class after helping Iowa reach the Elite 8 for the first time since 1987.
 
In OKC's 2nd game, a loss to Atlanta Payton really turned it on with 25 points in 21 minutes, 6-10 from the field, 4-6 from 3, 4-4 fts, 4 boards.

Bennett played 29 minutes and scored 9 points, not great shooting.

Dix played 17 minutes and didn't score.
 
I am not as familiar with the NBA contracts and G League and how that all works. But, is the most likely scenario here is that Stirz is on the active roster from Day 1 and likely plays reasonable minutes with the Thunder off the bench, but the other two are mostly in the G League with spot chances to be called up to the Thunder here and there?
 
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    Benefits of a First-Round NBA Draft Pick​

    Being selected in the first round of the NBA Draft comes with several key benefits, both financial and structural, that give players a significant advantage over later-round picks.
    1. Guaranteed Rookie Contract
    First-round picks automatically sign a four-year rookie scale contract under the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement. The first two years are fully guaranteed for lack of skill, injury, or illness, while years three and four are subject to team options sportslawblogger.com+1. This provides immediate financial security and protects the player from losing their rookie deal.
    2. Higher Salary Based on Draft Position
    The NBA’s rookie wage scale assigns salaries based on pick number. The higher the pick, the more a player earns. For example, in the 2025–26 draft, the No. 1 pick could earn $13.8 million in their rookie season and over $62 million total over four years, while the No. 30 pick earns about $2.74 million in Year 1 and around $14 million total Pro Football Network+1. Teams can sign players to 80–120% of the scale, but in practice, most get the maximum 120% LinkedIn.
    3. Cost Certainty for Teams
    The rookie scale system gives teams predictable costs for their incoming players, which is important for budgeting and cap management LinkedIn.
    4. Eligibility for Extensions
    After completing their third NBA season, first-round picks become eligible for contract extensions if they meet performance and contract terms Sporting News.
    5. Competitive Edge Over Later-Round Picks
    Second-round picks do not have guaranteed rookie deals and must negotiate individually, often ending up on two-way contracts or lower-value deals Pro Football Network+1. First-rounders start with a stronger financial foundation and more guaranteed playing time.
    6. Opportunity for High-Profile Contracts
    Top picks can command record-setting rookie deals, as seen with A.J. Dybantsa’s projected $69 million four-year contract with the Wizards Forbes. This can set the stage for long-term value and marketability.
    In summary: A first-round NBA draft pick benefits from a guaranteed rookie deal, higher salary based on draft position, cost certainty for teams, and long-term extension eligibility, giving them a clear financial and competitive advantage over later-round selections.
 
Below is a paragraph on Payton's nba journey from last year. It appears this year might be more of the same.

An important distinction is that if a player is on a two way contractract the parent team owns his rights. If a player is in the G League that player can be signed away by any nba team. It seems to me OKC likes Payton's game, they just have a lot of good, young talent.

from Wiki:

After not being selected in the 2025 NBA draft, Sandfort signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder.[14] He was waived on October 13, 2025, in order to join their G League affiliate the Oklahoma City Blue.[15] He used this time to have surgery on both shoulders and get healthy. On March 2, 2026, Sandfort signed a two-way contract with the Thunder.[16] On April 12, Sandfort recorded a career-high 23 points with five three-pointers during a 103–135 loss to the Phoenix Suns.[17]
 

Thunder have already given up on top Summer League scoring threat​

Story by Mark Nilon

Don't look now, but the young player the OKC Thunder recently rid their payroll of is the exact same one currently leading the charge for their Summer League team.

Payton Sandfort, the undrafted Iowa wing Oklahoma City snatched up on a two-way deal this past March, recently had his contract waived by the franchise.

However, he remains a part of the club's SL squad and, coincidentally, is producing like one of the best ballers on their roster so far in the annual offseason event.

Recently, while coming off the bench in a showdown against Atlanta, Sandfort dropped a whopping 25 points on 60.0 percent shooting from the floor and 66.7 percent shooting from deep. Through three games played, he leads all Thunder players in points with 12.7 per night.

Throughout his rookie campaign in the association, the former Hawkeye showed potential to become a reliable offensive contributor, especially in his limited action with the varsity team, where, over four outings and while logging 15.8 minutes per game, he registered averages of 8.8 points on 41.2 percent shooting from deep.

Of course, despite these flashes and his team-best scoring output in this year's Summer League, the odds of Sandfort returning to the team seem slim to none, especially considering OKC's final two-way spot will likely end up going to the recently selected second-round guard Otega Oweh.

Nevertheless, his play could still help him land a new deal with a rival club or, selfishly, help keep him with the G League affiliate, the OKC Blue, for the 2026-27 season.
 
After the Thunder lost their first game in Vegas to the Lakers an OKC writer,Clemente Almanza, OKC Thunder Wire wrote a summary and graded some of the players with a little write up.

Stirtz and Sandfort were graded, Dix was not

Bennett Stirtz: A​


Commanding the offense, Stirtz utilized Tilly's screen like a pick-and-roll maestro he was billed to be. He dribbled his way to the top of the key. Swishing in another pull-up outside jumper, we finally saw him unveil the microwave-scoring aspect of his game at Summer League.

Stirtz finished with 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting and two assists. He shot 3-of-8 from 3 and went 1-of-1 on free throws. He also had one steal and one block.

Now this is what we're talking about. Finally, Stirtz enjoyed some shooting luck. I liked his process in Utah. The results obviously weren't there. But after he scored OKC's opening bucket on a driving layup, the rim finally returned to being on talking terms with him.

The more the ball was in Stirtz's hands, the more confidence he gained. With each passing dribble, he got into a flow. The rhythm scorer finally found a groove as the Thunder allowed him to be the primary ball-handler. He had 13 points in the second half. Looking at his shot chart, the jumper finally fell for him.

Stirtz showcased his range with a couple of deep 3-pointers. And even on your run-of-the-mill corner attempt, he drilled in the shot despite being heavily contested. Not just a one-level scorer, he also showed he can take it to the cup or pull up in traffic inside of the paint.


Just a really great outing for Stirtz. He was the only salvageable part of this snoozefest. Great to see him show he can get on a heater. His Utah stint started to conjure up some uncomfortable conversations about his ability to put up points at the NBA level in the same way he did at Iowa.

"I just gotta trust it more often. I'm not used to catch-and-shoot 3s. I had some open ones and I passed them up. I gotta just let the ball fly. Trust my shot," Stirtz said. "Trusted it later in the game, so that was good. I just got to continue to stack it and be better."

Payton Sandfort: B-plus​

Knocking down a couple of deep outside jumpers, Sandfort continues to show out. Of their entire Summer League roster, he's made the most of his opportunity on the Thunder. Before the games started, he was mostly an afterthought. Four games later, folks are clamoring to bring him back on a two-way deal.

Sandfort finished with 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting and seven rebounds. He shot 2-of-5 from 3.

Aside from the goose egg he had in Utah's finale, Sandfort has been a standout in all of OKC's Summer League games. In fact, he's made the second halves at least semi-watchable in all blowout losses. The range has been insane. Even for today's ridiculous NBA standards where guys are pulling up from near halfcourt.

At this point, Sandfort has built up a drumbeat. Three really good outings out of four games show the type of consistency you like to see from hopeful NBA players. Especially when their top selling point is being an outside shooter. That's always going to be a hot commodity in today's league.
 
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OKC Thunder wing turns in strong start to Las Vegas Summer League​

Story by Randall Sweet

The Oklahoma City Thunder have suffered losses in each of the team's first two contests at the 2026 Las Vegas Summer League.

OKC fell 96-84 against the Los Angeles Lakers on July 10, and was defeated 104-79 at the hands of the Golden State Warriors on July 12.

The Thunder's Summer League squad doesn't feature many players who will be on the team's roster for the 2026-27 season. First round picks Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz are likely the only two players competing in Summer League who will be on standard contracts for the team.

Aside for Mara and Stirtz, Brooks Barnhizer, Josh Dix and Otega Oweh are all on two-way contracts, with Oweh missing each of the team's first two games in Las Vegas with an injury.

Alongside the aforementioned players, Payton Sandfort, who spent part of the 2025-26 season on a two-way contract with the Thunder, has performed well during his first two games in Las Vegas.

Sandfort is averaging 10.5 points and 3.5 rebounds across contests against the Warriors and Lakers, shooting 50% from the field and 33.3% from 3-point range.

Sandfort had a stellar performance against the Atlanta Hawks in the Salt Lake City Summer League on July 6, finishing with 25 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and zero turnovers while shooting 6-of-10 from the field, 4-of-6 from 3-point range and 4-of-4 from the free throw line in 21 minutes on the floor.

As a two-way player, Sandfort appeared in four games with the Thunder during the 2025-26 season, averaging 8.8 points and 2.5 rebounds while shooting 50% from the field and 41.2% from beyond the arc across 15.8 minutes per game.

In 20 G League contests with the Blue, Sandfort averaged 11.3 points, 6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 38.7% from the field and 34.2% from deep. Following his rookie season, Sandfort was waived by the Thunder, but will likely return to the organization as a G League player if another team doesn't sign the former Iowa standout to a two-way or standard contract.

If Sandfort does return to the Blue, another solid campaign could earn the sharpshooting wing another chance in the NBA. The 23-year-old has flashed his perimeter shooting ability during the Summer League, which could help him earn a spot with the Blue or another franchise.

Oklahoma City takes the court again on Tuesday, July 14, at 8 p.m. against the Denver Nuggets.
 
Payton had a short stint at the end of last year, which I am sure helped him. But he is almost like a rookie because of the injuries and recovery last year. I still think he has a decent chance to make it on to a roster next year.
 
Yea, I see him hooking on somewhere. When you are 6'7", can shoot the 3 and have a good all-around game, somebody is going to give you ha shot.

OKC is now the trend setter in the NBA. Stockpile a bunch of draft picks, load yourself up with good, young players and bring them along slowly and eventually it pays off. Lots of teams are now blowing up their rosters, getting rid of the older, expensive guys and building with a young core. The days of the super max are numbered INO.
 
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