"Gilbert Arenas, who has displayed frustration about his sporadic playing time since joining the Orlando Magic in December, needs to improve his relationship with Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy, Magic GM Otis Smith said Friday afternoon.

"There's some growth there that needs to happen as it relates to him," Smith said of Arenas. "Their relationship is going to have to get a little bit better. The relationships in the locker room with one another is going to have to continue to get better."

Arenas averaged a little more than 16 minutes per game in five playoff games, and he missed Game 3 altogether because Van Gundy opted to use Hedo Turkoglu as the team's backup point guard.

Arenas, who has barely spoken to the media recently, wasn't shy about wanting to play more after the benching.

"In Game 4 and Game 5, he realized that I'm useful so he used me," Arenas said. "Before the playoffs, I was just sitting in corners. I wasn't a part of the offense. The offensive is built for Dwight [Howard] and shooters, and I'm more of a creator myself."

The Magic acquired Arenas on Dec. 18, and he's struggled to grasp his role or play with consistent effectiveness since then.

Part of that, Smith says, is Arenas' lack of comfort with his coach and the system.

"There's some work that needs to be done from a chemistry standpoint," Smith said. "But it takes time and we didn't have time during the course of the season."

Arenas declined to speak to reporters Friday."