Judging by the comments that Magic center Dwight Howard made after his team got blown out by the Hornets 93-67, it doesn't seem like the trade rumors are going to be silenced any time soon.
The five-time all-star center tore into his teammates Friday night after Orlando committed 23 turnovers en route to losing its third game in four tries.
"I look at guys and they don't look like they want to play," Howard said, via ESPN. "I told them at halftime, 'If you don't want to play, just stay in the locker room, because it don't make sense for a team who we should beat to just demolish us.'"
Howard went on to say that he wasn't calling anyone specific out, but he insisted that "if you don't want to be out there, don't dress up."
Howard, 26, previously ripped his teammates after a loss to the Sacramento Kings in February of last year and you might find some similarities in his comments.
"If guys don't want to play, they need to sit down. We can't just have guys or anybody out there not playing hard," he said.
Trade rumors about the reigning Defensive Player of the Year (three years running) have been swirling for quite some time. Before the season, Howard was said to have made a trade wish list that included the Nets, Mavericks and Lakers. Just last week, he added the new-look Los Angeles Clippers to that list. The Knicks and Celtics have also been named as options for a potential landing spot for Howard.