(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

BY HANK KOEBLER

ANCHOR LAUREN ZIMA

Losing four out of six games has worn Dwight Howard’s patience thin. The Orlando Magic center publicly criticized his teammates’ effort after losing to the New Orleans Hornets by 26 points Saturday night. Howard told media after the game…

“It hurts to get out there and you play your hardest and you expect everybody to play the same way, and I’m not calling anybody out by no means because we all have to get better … but if you don’t want to be out there, don’t dress up.”

The Orlando Sentinel’s Josh Robbins questions Howard’s authority to make such comments in light of his trade requests, writing…

“Not only did he request a trade before the season began, but he also indirectly threw his current teammates under the bus ... The Magic have no shortage of question marks, but perhaps the most fascinating one is whether a player who wants out can be a leader.”

ESPN NBA Analyst Bruce Bowen was also critical of Howard, saying…

“If you’re pointing the finger at others, then how about the three that are pointing right back at you? You’re the one who took your personal problems and requested trades outside in the media.”

Howard requested a trade in December, and the Magic have granted his agent permission to discuss a trade with the Dallas Mavericks, New Jersey Nets and Los Angeles Lakers. After Howard made his trade demands public, Forbes’ David DiSalvo, a self-professed Magic fan, wrote he was sad to see Howard want to leave, but…

“I really can’t blame him. Orlando had several opportunities to put better players around Dwight and make the team a serious contender for a championship.  Instead, Magic leadership spent millions on players that added little or nothing to the team but whose contracts will cost the program a fortune for years to come.”

The Magic are sitting at third place in the Southeast division. Yahoo! Sports contributor Brett David Roberts wrote after the loss to the Hornets that the Magic’s struggles could add up and hurt Orlando’s chances of keeping Howard …

“One loss here, one blow here, one comment to media there, and you have a disaster. Howard has only maintained the stance that he is ‘in Orlando and that's all that matters now,’ but will that change if the Magic reel off a few more losses and find themselves sitting at .500 going into the All-Star break?”