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.