The Warriors have already locked Kristaps Porzingis in for the next two years, and the expectation is clear: he’s supposed to be the starting center when Golden State opens against the Los Angeles Lakers next month.
Still, one of the stranger possibilities on the table is that Porzingis could begin games on the bench.
It’s a long shot, and by any reasonable read of the situation, an unlikely one. But with Steve Kerr searching for offense while six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler is out injured, the idea has at least been floated. Warriors insider Danny Emerman of The San Fransisco Standard suggested Kerr could go small to open games, using Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Gui Santos, Yaxel Lendeborg and Draymond Green.
"The Warriors could run their second unit through Porzingis, with Williams and Melton as the primary ballhandlers. A simple halfcourt offense via Porzingis mid-post touches could be a safe, low-turnover approach to the non-Curry minutes," Emerman wrote.
There is precedent for Golden State opening against the Lakers with a smaller look. Last season, the Warriors started with a similarly compact lineup on opening night and came away with a 119-109 road win.
The difference, of course, is that Butler was part of that group then, giving Curry a second major offensive threat. Porzingis wasn’t on the roster yet.
That’s why the bench idea feels more theoretical than practical. It might help the Warriors manage minutes and organize the second unit around Porzingis, but it would also put a heavy load on Curry if the starting group lacks another dependable scoring presence. Golden State finished 19th on offense last season, and that’s the problem Kerr has to solve.
When Porzingis has been on the floor, he has produced. In his 15 games at the end of last season, he averaged over 16 points in less than 24 minutes. There’s also room for that number to rise as he builds chemistry with his new teammates and cleans up some underwhelming shooting efficiency.
Emerman’s small-ball look would give Golden State more defensive flexibility with Green at center, but that comes with its own cost, especially for a 36-year-old. A healthy Porzingis should still matter as a rim protector and shot-blocker, which is another reason he fits naturally in the starting five.
There’s no doubt he could come off the floor late in halves, at the end of games or in other high-leverage moments. But if he’s healthy and available, it’s hard to picture the Warriors sending him out for opening tip from the bench.
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