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.

The New Orleans Pelicans are coming off a nightmare of a season. Following a successful summer last year, expectations were that the Pelicans would establish themselves as one of the elite teams in the Western Conference.