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 star Zion Williamson will continue to be a "focal point" of the organization, a team executive said, days after Williamson was named in a sexual abuse lawsuit.

New Orleans Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumars and owner Gayle Benson are standing behind star forward Zion Williamson after he was accused of rape and domestic violence in a civil lawsuit last week.