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

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.

Rumors have swirled around the New Orleans Pelicans potentially moving on from Zion Williamson amid his ongoing injury struggles and off-court challenges.