Newly hired New Orleans Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumars told The Times-Picayune the franchise will continue to build around Zion Williamson as its star player, settling speculation that Williamson could be either a trade candidate or could get cut outright amid new legal issues.

New Orleans Pelicans leadership has indicated they are planning to stick with Zion Williamson as the face of the franchise going forward.

Joe Dumars, hired in April as the Pelicans' executive vice president of basketball operations, spoke on the plans for Williamson in an interview with The Times-Picayune Wednesday morning.