Entering training camp, the Oklahoma City Thunder only had two players signed under two-way deals — Branden Carlson and Brooks Barnhizer. Expect a third player to be signed by the end of the preseason. It’ll likely come down to a group of four players.
Perhaps nobody in the NBA has best utilized the two-way spot as well as the Thunder. It serves as a potential 50-game sample of bubble NBA players who could develop into a success story in the right ecosystem. They’ve seen plenty of players excel in that start, such as Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Ajay Mitchell.
Of OKC’s 21-player training camp roster, four were invitees. Malevy Leons, Chris Youngblood, Jazian Gortman and Zack Austin. Leons and Gortman have previous G League experience, while Youngblood and Austin were undrafted rookies. All four spent time on the Thunder’s 2025 Summer League squad.
The Thunder hope that one of those four players can grab the final two-way spot. With the other three likely being on the G League’s OKC Blue to start the 2025-26 season. One player who has plenty of experience with that quartet is Mitchell.
After his rookie campaign was spoiled by turf toe surgery, Mitchell dominated the Summer League competition just weeks after he won an NBA championship. It was obvious the 23-year-old was simply too talented to play against the pseudo-NBA talent.
Mitchell hopes to have a strong second season. He graduated to a standard deal this past offseason. Now, the Thunder hope he can become the backup point guard. As they continue training camp, he was asked about the training camp invitees. He mentioned one by name with positive feedback.
“I think they’ve done a great job. They’re always asking questions. And obviously, when they’re out there, they’re just out there playing and being competitive,” Mitchell said. “I think CY was one of the first guys that stood out to me, just being competitive, being out there and asking a lot of questions. But I think they’re all standing out so far.”
Of course, Mitchell is referencing Youngblood. He went undrafted out of Alabama, but quickly lit up the scoreboard at Summer League. To the point that most Thunder fans learned his name at the end of the two-week extravaganza. His outside shot stood out as somebody who wasn’t afraid to let it fly from deep.
Once the preseason starts, we’ll learn a lot about the training camp invitees. That’s when players can separate themselves from the rest of the group. If Youngblood can be a dangerous outside threat, he should have a strong chance to land the final two-way deal.