EXTENSION: Gobert signs 5yr/$205M w/ UTA | DAL "significant interest" if available

[StepBackJay]

None of those guys are close to Gobert. 

I never really like the "it hasn't been done that way" argument. It was used against Dirk as well. There is some value in talking about archetypes, but some players are simply better than other players of their ilke. I think Gobert is more impactful than what is expected of his archetype. 

Given that, I'd say the odds are against Gobert leading a team to a championship, but not just because of his archetype. The same is true of Jokic, Lillard, Harden, Embid and others. It's hard to win a championship. But that doesn't mean you give up on Jokic, Lillard, Harden, Embid, etc. (hard to say that about Harden at the moment, but...). You just have to try to build the best roster possible. There are very few players at any one time that make you an immediate finals contender, but there are a lot of players who can be your best (max) player and that will require some better team building to make it work.

It's amazing to me that you say none of those guys in their prime are close to Gobert. Joakim Noah is another guy I left off who was DPOY like Chandler. Jordan in his prime was considered a top defender and rebounder. I don't see this giant chasm in terms of ability you all are seeing. I am not talking about current day play of any of these centers, I am talking the 2-3 best years of their prime these were top centers. If you want to throw out Whiteside fine, but he was shot-blocking, rebounding monster in his prime. I know Rudy has been DOPY twice which is very impressive, but has only made the all-star team once I believe. If he was a top 10 player don't you think he would have made more than 1 all-star team?