Andrea Bargnani calls Toronto Raptors worst team in NBA

• Andrea Bargnani told Italian newspaper Raptors are worst team in NBA
• Starting forward is injured because of torn elbow ligament
• Toronto now 4-19, second-worst record in NBA ahead of Wizards

TORONTO (AP) — Toronto Raptors forward Andrea Bargnani offered a blunt assessment of his struggling team, telling an Italian newspaper that the Raptors are "pretty much the worst team in the NBA."

The first overall pick in the 2006 draft, Bargnani is sidelined because of a torn ligament in his elbow and a strained right wrist. He was injured when he fell awkwardly on a dunk attempt during Monday night's road loss to the Portland Trail Blazers and is expected to miss at least three weeks.

The Raptors have lost six in a row and 12 of 13. At 4-19, Toronto is ahead of only the 3-16 Washington Wizards in the NBA standings.

Bargnani told Italy's La Gazzetta Dello Sport that Toronto's start was "tragic" and "a desperate situation."

Raptors coach Dwane Casey said Friday he intended speak to Bargnani about his remarks, but said he would be surprised if the comments had not been taken out of context or mistranslated.