Iowa's Josh Dix Battles for Roster Spot as OKC Thunder Eye Fifth Starter
The Oklahoma City Thunder reached the Western Conference Finals last season, but a busy summer of roster moves has left the team with an open starting spot and several new faces competing for minutes. Among them is Iowa native Josh Dix, who signed a two-way contract with the Thunder after going undrafted this year.
OKC traded away Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe in cost-saving moves, opening a vacancy in the starting lineup. The Thunder also added rookies Aday Mara, Bennett Stirtz, Otega Oweh and Dix to the roster as they push toward another deep playoff run.
Who will fill the fifth starting spot for OKC?
The most likely candidates are Cason Wallace and Ajay Mitchell, both of whom saw significant starting time last season.
Wallace started 58 of his 77 games and earned All-Defensive second-team honors. His shooting improved dramatically in the playoffs, jumping from 35.1 percent from deep in the regular season to 48.4 percent in the postseason.
Mitchell stepped up as a starter during last year's playoffs when Jalen Williams was injured, averaging 18.4 points and 4.7 assists per game. While not as strong defensively as Wallace, Mitchell offers better shot creation and playmaking ability.
Returning starters anchor the Thunder's core
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won his second straight MVP award last season, averaging 31.1 points and a career-high 6.6 assists. At 28 years old, he remains the best point guard in the NBA and a legitimate candidate for best player in the league.
Jalen Williams earned All-NBA third team and All-Defensive second team honors but was limited to just 33 games due to injuries. He missed most of the conference finals but has had the summer to recover.
Chet Holmgren made the All-NBA third team and All-Defensive first team while posting career highs of 17.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.
Isaiah Hartenstein signed a three-year, $75 million contract to remain with the Thunder, solidifying the frontcourt alongside Holmgren.
Josh Dix brings Iowa shooting pedigree to OKC
Dix, a 6-foot-5 guard who played at both Iowa and Creighton, hit 38.4 percent of his three-pointers during his four-year college career. He signed a two-way contract with the Thunder this summer and will compete for a standard roster spot.
If his shooting translates to the NBA and he can hold his own defensively, Dix could earn a promotion at some point during the season.
Payton Sandfort, another Iowa product who played at Iowa, is also in the mix for the final roster spot. He averaged 8.8 points in 15.8 minutes per game during four appearances with OKC last season while shooting 41.2 percent from deep.
Bench contributors and young talent round out the roster
Alex Caruso remains a key bench piece with two All-Defensive selections to his name. Jared McCain, acquired from Philadelphia last season, averaged 10.4 points in 18 minutes per game and should see increased opportunities with Wiggins and Joe gone.
Nikola Topić, the 12th pick in the 2024 draft, has overcome a torn ACL and testicular cancer diagnosis to return to the court. He appeared in 10 games last season and provides playmaking and positional size when called upon.
Rookies Bennett Stirtz, Aday Mara and Thomas Sorber add depth at guard and center, though minutes may be limited on a team with strong frontcourt depth.
What does this mean for Iowa basketball fans?
For Iowa sports fans, the Thunder's roster decisions carry local interest. Dix and Sandfort both have Iowa ties, and their path to NBA minutes will be worth watching as the season progresses.
The Thunder open their 2026-27 season with high expectations after last year's conference finals appearance. The team's depth and versatility make them a strong contender in the Western Conference, but the fifth starter decision could shape their early-season chemistry.
OKC has not yet filled its 15th and final roster spot. The most likely outcome is promoting one of its two-way players, with Brooks Barnhizer and Otega Oweh also in consideration alongside Dix and Sandfort.