Onyeka Okongwu has played like a top-10 center in the league this season, while Kristaps Porzingis has struggled mightily, yet Porzingis has started every game he has been healthy for.
Fans debated before the season whether Okongwu or Porzingis deserved to start, but the nod was always going to go to Porzingis. He’s a former All-Star with 11 years of NBA experience who was the starter on a team that won the Finals less than 18 months ago. Porzingis is generally regarded as a positive locker room presence, but most players with this resume would feel slighted if they were benched after being traded to a team that started Clint Capela a calendar year ago.