The last 2 NBA champions

[Branduil]

Size still matters, but as you point out, you need skills to go with it. I think a key role for Lopez and Portis is to play well enough to let GA get some rest and make it to the 4th quarter still energetic and without excessive foul encumbrance, so he can be the star everyone expects him to be.

Yes, and this is also another similarity with the previous Lakers... during the regular season McGee and Dwight could bang against other center and protect AD, and then in the playoffs they unleashed Center AD while the other 2 took a lessened but still important role. The key is to not get into a situation where you're paying too much money to guys who can get "played off the floor" and yet you're still forced to play them, i.e. KP and Gobert vs. the Clippers.