The Nuggets went 18-7 down the stretch after the megatrade of Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks. Nuggets executive Masai Ujiri would like to build off that momentum.

"We're going to try to keep the core together and build from here," he said. "That's the goal."

Asked specifically about Aaron Afflalo, an off guard who averaged 12.6 points per game in a breakout season, Ujiri said there's "no question" he will be a Nugget for years to come.