Toronto (4-17) – As hot seat situations go, the blame game inevitably comes down to the question of whether the team is failing because of the quality of the roster itself or because of how the players on the roster are performing. Coaches are always easier to fire than players, so the latter scenario doesn’t typically bode well for the play-calling types.

So when Raptors team president and general manager Bryan Colangelo went out of his way in an interview on the team’s network during Sunday’s 102-83 loss at the Clippers on Sunday to make it clear that a lack of talent wasn’t the problem, then went on to make repeated references to a lack of “attention to detail” and “focus,” it was fair to wonder what sort of message that sent about Casey’s future. Yet two people with knowledge of the Raptors’ thinking who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue told USA TODAY Sports that Casey is not in jeopardy at the moment, and the more relevant question is how long it will be until Colangelo makes a roster move that helps his own situation.

While Casey is under contract through next season, Colangelo’s deal expires after this season and he’s well aware that he needs to turn this tide. To that end, the Raptors are dangling seventh-year center and 2006 No. 1 pick Andrea Bargnani as trade bait but don’t have any takers thus far. … [For more on As NBA teams struggle, their coaches' seats get warm, click here.]