The New Orleans Pelicans' odds of reaching the playoffs continue to fade.

General manager Dell Demps sees reaching the playoffs as an important step in the maturation process of a young team.

“We’ve got a group we’re growing together to get better,” Demps said. “The key to our philosophy is to have a core built around Anthony Davis.

“That builds continuity.”

Demps has been reluctant to deal away any core players and has instead worked on shuffling the end of the roster.

Anthony Davis has been diagnosed with a right shoulder sprain and is expected to miss 1-2 weeks, the New Orleans Pelicans announced Sunday.

An MRI conducted by the team’s medical staff this morning confirmed the right shoulder sprain. The injury occurred in last night’s game against the Miami HEAT.

Additionally, Ryan Anderson underwent an MRI this morning and has been diagnosed with an MCL sprain in his right knee. He is out 2-4 weeks.

The New Orleans Pelicans have waived forward Shawne Williams.

Williams was acquired Feb. 19 from the Miami Heat along with Norris Cole and Justin Hamilton as part of a three-team trade.

The New Orleans Pelicans have completed a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder, acquiring Ish Smith, the rights to Latavious Williams, cash considerations and draft considerations. In exchange, Oklahoma City has acquired draft considerations from New Orleans. 

Smith, 6-0, 175, appeared in 30 games this season with Oklahoma City, averaging 1.2 points, 0.9 rebounds and 0.9 assists. Undrafted out of Wake Forest in 2010, Smith has appeared in 221 career games, also suiting up for Phoenix, Orlando, Houston, Milwaukee and Memphis, averaging 2.7 points, 1.9 assists and 1.4 rebounds.

Norris Cole has been traded by the Miami Heat to the New Orleans Pelicans for John Salmons.

The Pelicans need depth at point guard with Jrue Holiday out.

Jrue Holiday aggravated the stress reaction in his lower right leg Monday. He will be re-evaluated in three weeks by the team’s medical staff. A timetable for his return will be announced at a later date as more information is available.

Holiday has missed the previous 16 games with the injury.

In 37 games this season, Holiday averaged 15.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 33.7 minutes per game. 

The New Orleans Pelicans have agreed to re-sign Toney Douglas on a second 10-day contract after the All-Star break, a league source tells RealGM.

Douglas has averaged 9.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 22.0 minutes per game in three appearances this season with the Pelicans.

Douglas was previously playing in China.

The Golden State Warriors, Atlanta Hawks and Portland Trail Blazers enter the All-Star break as the only three teams in the NBA ranked in the top-10 in both offense and defense.

Fourteen other teams are in the top-10 in either offensive or defensive efficiency.

The Chicago Bulls ranked second in defensive efficiency last season and 28th on offense, but they are currently 9th on offense and just 13th on defense.

Teams that contend for a championship in the NBA typically are in the top-10 in both categories, or are particularly dominant on one end of the floor.

The current top-10 in efficiency differential consists of the Warriors, Hawks, Clippers, Mavericks, Blazers, Grizzlies, Raptors, Spurs, Rockets and Cavaliers.

The old/young distinction is based on the average age of players who play 15 or more minutes per game.

Anthony Davis has been replaced by Dirk Nowitzki for the NBA's Western Conference All-Star reserve team, the league announced on Wednesday.

Davis is sidelined with a shoulder injury.

Nowitzki will make his 13th appearance in the NBA All-Star Game.

Anthony Davis has been diagnosed with a right shoulder sprain, the New Orleans Pelicans announced.

Davis sustained the injury at the 5:28 mark of the second quarter in New Orleans’ game Saturday night against Chicago at the Smoothie King Center.

Davis is questionable for Monday's home game against Utah and is listed as day-to-day.