Candace Buckner of The Columbian reports that Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge discussed the importance of finding a true center to play alongside of him, arguing that the Miami Heat's small ball approach is an exception, not the rule.

"That's rare, though. They can win because they have LeBron who can play one, two, three and four, so that's why they won it. I think he played more four than Bosh," Aldridge said, when I brought up the Heat's 2012 title. "I just want that luxury of playing with a dominant center (so) that we can play together. I never had that, so I think that would be good for me and good for that person." "It's definitely trendy to have more small ball but if you think back to the old days, having a center, that meant rings. Shaq, David Robinson and Tim (Duncan) together. Bill Russell. That's just what I always thought. Winning it all meant - (even) OKC has (Kendrick) Perkins, he's a true center. Dallas had Tyson Chandler and he's a true center. So I think most times you need that center piece."

Recently, Aldridge told David Aldridge of NBA.com that adding a seven-footer to the roster next summer "would be great."

Me: Can you sustain playing smaller all season? LA: I think so. I think we can, I think guys have to be versatile and do different things. I think so far that we've shown we can play with the big teams playing small. I think they have to play small with us. ... Me: [Adding] Somebody large [next summer] would be helpful, right? LA: Yeah. You know, I love J.J. He's good for us. But somebody seven foot, 7-foot-1, a lot taller than me, that would be great.

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter