For a number of years now, the NBA has seen a trend where teams are deciding to play frontcourt players who are more shooters, consistently hitting anything from floaters, mid-range jumpers and three-pointers, rather than lowpost-only bigs.
Teams like these types of athletes at the center and forward spots, especially in tight moments near the end of the game, because their shooting ability creates space and spreads the floor, creating more opportunities to score from the perimeter. Think about former Utah Jazz players Mehmet Okur and Al Jefferson.
This strategy usually leaves traditional non-shooting bigs on the bench during the final minutes of a close game–players who are efficient close to the rim but lack shotmaking skills and generally struggle guarding every position on the floor.