Context: I want to form an all-time team with prime Steph/Klay/KD/LeBron but have issues about the 5.
Jokic is obviously the best out of AD and Dwight but he is not a good rim protector and I have enough scoring/offense with Steph/KD/LeBron and playmaking with Steph/LeBron. Jokic’s screening and rebounding will be really helpful though and he will allow the team to play true 5 out which gives LeBron the best spacing.
AD is the most versatile defender compared to Dwight (more switchable) but he is not big enough to body bigger bigs like Jokic or Shaq. I like AD’s off ball game the most out of the 3 + he is a good FT shooter
Dwight is a defender that matches up the best against true bigs like Shaq and he has a good off ball game when focused on his strengths (unlike say 2011 where he stopped PnR due to media pressure).
Which big fits this team the best?
There’s a lot of Dwight love here but I don’t see it. I want to draw the opposing big out of the lane because LeBron’s attacking will be the engine to the offense. For me AD is the easy answer because you’re getting elite defense and a guy who the opposing team has to respect in the mid range and sometimes even from 3. Jokic makes the offense just silly, but you lose a lot on the other end compared to Dwight or AD and at some point you might even benefit from a big who can excel without the ball
I only think you lose a little on defensive end. Jokic often dusts elite centers and holds his own in huge playoff minutes at elevation. Aaron Gordon backs him up if needed and Lebron can do that better. All three elite rebounders so wash there. Jokic and Lebron on the court both seeing plays and calling them out before they happen would also be insane.