OKC Thunder must address defensive rebounding issue – 3 player acquisitions to consider

One critical area the OKC Thunder must resolve prior to season start is defensive rebounding. TI serves up a trio of players Sam Presti should consider to address this need.

With the NBA season less than two weeks away, the new-look OKC Thunder are poised to have a successful 2018-19 regular season. Despite Oklahoma City’s shiny new acquisitions, one area the Thunder neglected to improve is defensive rebounding.

Despite being the NBA’s best offensive rebounding team last season (12.4), the OKC Thunder ranked 25th in defensive rebounding (32.6). Oklahoma City’s inability to clean the defensive glass is perplexing considering their dominance on the other end of the floor and was an area of frustration which plagued the team all year long.

Enter 2018-19 and what’s changed? Short answer – nothing.

Three seasons removed from being the most dominant rebounding team in the NBA, Oklahoma City allowed 9.5 offensive boards last season (11th). While this isn’t terrible, OKC were made to pay against bigger teams who played legitimate front line combinations (i.e. New Orleans Pelicans and Minnesota Timberwolves). These extra scoring opportunities resulted in OKC allowing 12.8 second chance points per game, ranking them in the bottom half of the league (19th).

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The acquisition of Nerlens Noel addresses three needs:

• A legitimate back-up for Steven Adams
• Another defensive-minded big who is an excellent rim protector
• Strong presence on the glass

However with Adams and Noel unlikely to share the court together for long stretches, his acquisition doesn’t address the lack of rebounding in the starting unit. To make matters worse, Andre Roberson‘s recovery from a torn patellar tendon has been pushed back two more months after he underwent surgery to remove a suture causing irritation. The defensive anchor is a underrated rebounder (career 4.0 rebounds per game), often trusted to fix up defensive lapses and chase down long rebounds.

So where do the Thunder go from here?

Oklahoma City’s primary focus appears to be on space, pace and 3-point shooting but the teams identity is based upon its stifling defense. In order to compliment OKC’s smothering defense, the Thunder must address its defensive rebounding issue.

Acquiring a legitimate glass cleaner at power forward is an option worth exploring. Coach Billy Donovan is looking to ignite OKC’s twin tower approach playing Adams and Noel together but that appears to be a tough fit since neither one has a jumper. Additionally, the team is better served keeping Noel out of the game just in case Adams needs a rest.

Players in the Alan Williams, Noah Vonleh and Chieck Diallo mold should be players of interest for Oklahoma City. Here are the rebounding numbers per 36 minutes last season:

• *Alan Williams – 14.8 rebounds (4.8 offensive, 10.0 defensive)
• Cheick Diallo – 13.1 rebounds (2.9 offensive,10.2 defensive)
• Noah Vonleh – 12.8 rebounds (2.9 offensive, 9.9 defensive)

*Used 2016-17 statistics since Williams was injured for 76 games last year

One positive for all three players above is they are all on cheap contracts but they each come with their quirks and concerns.

Alan Williams:

Since his entry into the league, Williams has been injury prone and missed all of last season with a  torn meniscus. He is a hustle guy who doesn’t offer much on the defensive end aside from dunks and the odd hook shot. The 25 year-old is 6’8 with a 7’1 wingspan and is more of a center than power forward but has played at the four during his short tenure in the NBA.

Cheick Diallo:

Diallo is just 22 years-old and is extremely raw. He relies on effort, hustle, energy and competes on every possession when on court. His nose for the ball is quite impressive given his little playing experience. At 6’9 with a 7’4 wingspan, his physical tools are exceptional. With Diallo’s mid-range shot coming along nicely, he’s an ideal target given his lack of opportunities with New Orleans behind Anthony Davis, Nikola Nirotic and newly acquired Julius Randle.

Noah Vonleh:

Vonleh is perhaps the most interesting. Taken with the 9th pick in 2014, the 23 year-old has been on three teams in four seasons. At 6’9 with a 7’3 wingspan, he possesses exceptional physical tools and has reworked his offensive game toward the perimeter. While his shot is still in progress, his ability to hustle and clean the glass is one of his best attributes.

Final Thought

Of the three options, Vonleh or Diallo seem like the best options. Given how raw Diallo is, Vonleh is suited on an OKC roster that gets up and down the floor. His high motor, developing perimeter game and nose for the ball meshes well with a group light on hustle.

After a rough season cleaning the defensive glass last season, its in the best interests for Oklahoma City to address this area of need. If the Thunder are to rely on its stifling defense, defensive rebounding becomes all the more important.