From the clip-and-save department was this in May from Dirk Nowitzki.

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After a few weeks to absorb the first playoff sweep of his career, Dirk was asked how he would view the Dallas Mavericks' free-agent pursuit of Deron Williams, considering the price of doing so was not re-signing Tyson Chandler from the 2011 title team, if it came up empty.

The question was posed to him during a May appearance on ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM's "Galloway & Co.," and, as usual, Dirk answered it openly and honestly.

"It’s kind of tough," said Nowitzki, who has consistently spoken of wanting to finish his career in Dallas. "I’m like the grandfather of Dallas sports right now."

He was asked if he could ever see a time when he would request a trade if the pieces didn't come together as planned. Nowitzki, with two years left on his deal, and Kobe Bryant are the only players in the NBA with no-trade clauses in their contracts.

"I’m not sure," Nowitzki, 34, said. "I’ve always said I want to finish my career here and obviously the championship season topped it all off; that’s what I always was chasing and dreaming about so that kind of sealed that deal on that front. If we really come out with nobody this summer then maybe they want to rebuild and, obviously, I’m too old for that. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens on that front. But I still think I got two, three good years left in me and if we get some players in here we can be right back up there and compete."

In a more recent radio interview, Nowitzki reiterated his desire to be a Mav for life.