The OKC Thunder signed rookie big Christoph Tilly to an Exhibit-10 contract earlier this week.
Though his player profile and league-wide status are far from something to write home about, considering Sam Presti's track record of finding diamond-in-the-rough talents in the undrafted free agent pool over the years, his addition to training camp is certainly something to keep an eye on.
However, regardless of whether he ultimately makes the regular season roster or not, it goes without saying that someone of Tilly's talents will by no means address arguably the biggest weakness of this Thunder frontcourt.
Despite having two 7-footers manning the primary four and five spots in Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, respectively, Oklahoma City has proven to be one of the more middling rebounding groups over the past few years, especially on the offensive end.
Just last season, the Thunder placed outside of the top 10 in rebounds per game with an average of 44.1, and tied as the third-worst team in the offensive rebound department with a mere 9.6 a night.
Unfortunately, this lack of success in the second-chance department also seems to pop up on the defensive end as well, as the Thunder allowed the third-most offensive boards to opposing clubs this past year.
While Tilly may measure in at an intimidating 7-feet, 240 pounds, he's yet to prove capable of using such size to his advantage on the glass, as he wrapped up his four-year collegiate career averaging just 4.3 rebounds per game, with just 1.4 coming on the offensive end.
Thunder backcourt surprisingly one of the best in the league on the glass
While the Thunder frontcourt may struggle with pulling down rebounds and second-chance opportunities, the backcourt has proven itself to be one of the best in this aspect of the game.
In 2025-26, Oklahoma City's guards ranked second in the association in rebounds per game with 24.7, while placing third in offensive rebounds with 5.3 on average.
This is largely influenced by superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's underrated ability to rip down rebounds due to his lengthy frame and slippery positioning on the hardwood that allows him to average 6.8 rebounds per 100 possessions for his entire career.
Of course, until the bigger bodies down low can hold their own in this department, it should only be expected that the Thunder will continue to be an underwhelming rebounding team.
Tilly's arrival, regardless of his size, isn't going to help much on this front.
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