Iowa Wolves Acquired Forward Payton Sandfort

The Iowa Wolves obtained Payton Sandfort in a trade with the Delaware Blue Coats and Santa Cruz Warriors.

Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Basketball

Iowa Wolves Acquired Forward Payton Sandfort

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The Iowa Wolves have acquired the returning player rights to 6-foot-7 forward Payton Sandfort. The trade involves sending Nojel Eastern and a 2027 NBA G League Draft first-round pick to the Delaware Blue Coats.

Why it matters

The acquisition brings a proven performer back to Iowa, providing the team with a player who has logged professional minutes in both the NBA and the G League. Sandfort's addition is intended to bolster the roster for the upcoming season.

Payton Sandfort averaged 10.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists over 25 games for the Oklahoma City Blue. During his collegiate career, he played 134 games and earned the 2023 Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year title.

The players

Payton Sandfort

He is a 6-foot-7 forward who was named the Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year in 2023.

Iowa Wolves

They are the NBA G League affiliate of the Minnesota Timberwolves located in Des Moines.

Nojel Eastern

He is a professional basketball player whose returning player rights were traded by the Iowa Wolves.

Delaware Blue Coats

They are an NBA G League team that participated in the multi-team trade.

Santa Cruz Warriors

They are an NBA G League team that was involved in the trade transaction.

The details

The transaction includes the exchange of returning player rights and draft assets involving the Delaware Blue Coats and the Santa Cruz Warriors. Sandfort previously appeared in four games for the Oklahoma City Thunder, shooting 50% from the field and 42.1% from beyond the arc.

Sandfort was named Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year in 2023.
The Iowa Wolves announced the acquisition of Sandfort on October 1, 2026.
The traded draft pick is for the 2027 NBA G League Draft.

Season Trajectory

This acquisition signals a push by the Iowa Wolves to integrate experienced professional talent into their roster for the upcoming season. The move directly impacts the team's competitive depth and alters their future draft capital in the G League.

The Iowa Wolves have traded away their 2027 first-round draft pick as part of this deal to secure Sandfort. This moves a future asset to the present day in order to improve the immediate active roster rotation.

The takeaway

The acquisition of a player with significant collegiate and professional experience highlights the team's focus on immediate roster improvement. Fans and analysts should monitor how these new player rights impact the upcoming rotation and depth chart.