The last 2 NBA champions

[KillerLeft]

Ya I think that was a smart move tbh … but it was just a temporary adjustment in that specific situation more than how they succeeded overall. Even generously labeling Giannis as a “small” for the sake of this topic, they still had 7-foot Lopez logging top 5 starter minutes overall in the regular and post season. 

Yes, nobody is arguing that. 

The point is that they were in a situation (with overall talent) where they could take Lopez off of the floor when they had to, without it creating a situation that generated "does the coach or star player hate Lopez?" clicks for months and months. The Mavs, just for example, literally do not have the option to pull Porzingis if he's healthy. He's the highest paid player on the team.

I think the point is that when you invest BIG money in a big (not Jokic, Embiid, etc, but a normal big)... A) you're buying a pressure to play them in situations you probably shouldn't and B) you're making the team-building road to the sort of versatile talent you really need more difficult. 

I don't think anyone wants their team to be smaller than the next. Only better.