Go ahead, Raptors fans. Spend all the time you want complaining on message boards or calling into talk radio shows to demand Bryan Colangelo’s head for his drafting of yet another Euro. Don’t take this the wrong way, but he doesn’t really care – nor should he.

New Raptors head coach Dwane Casey met with the media in Toronto on Thursday following the team’s selection of Jonas Valanciunas with the No. 5 over-all pick. In addition to speaking excitedly about the 19-year old Lithuanian, Casey addressed his involvement in the selection process and the next steps as he eases into the new role.

Shortly after being selected with the No. 5 over-all pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, new Raptor Jonas Valanciunas spoke to Toronto media for the first time via conference call. Calling in from New York, Valanciunas talked about his idol, Arvydas Sabonis, and addresses complications pertaining to his buyout from his Lithuanian club.

DeMar DeRozan was in Toronto this week to meet with new Raptors head coach Dwane Casey and to serve as a celebrity judge for the All-Canadian Classic dunk contest. Speaking to the media prior to the 2011 NBA Draft on Thursday, DeRozan offered his thoughts on his new coach and reflected on his draft experience two years ago.

James Johnson spoke to the media in Toronto on Thursday prior to the 2011 NBA Draft. He detailed his grueling, new ’navy seals-style’ training regiment  and talked about his desire to improve and embrace a bigger role on the team.

Say this for the slew of college athletes about to become NBA players: they seem to have the media training down pat. Heading into next Thursday’s NBA Draft, they are saying all the right things, demonstrating humility and refraining from burning any bridges along the way.

San Diego State alum Kawhi Leonard spoke to the media in Toronto after working out for the Raptors on Wednesday. Leonard, who could be an option for the team at No. 5, talked about some of his NBA player comps and offered his thoughts on the draft experience.

Brampton, ON native and former Longhorn Tristan Thompson was the star attraction for local Toronto media during his workout with the Raptors on Wednesday that also featured Kawhi Leonard, Tobias Harris, Marcus Morris and life-long friend Cory Joseph. Speaking to the media afterwards, Thompson talked about Joseph and the bright future of Canadian basketball.

Toronto Raptors Director of Scouting Jim Kelly spoke to local media once again after the latest set of workouts, which saw the team host Kawhi Leonard, Tristan Thompson, Tobias Harris, Marcus Morris, Cory Joseph and Demontez Stitt. Calling it “the most competitive workout thus far”, Kelly described what impressed him about the draft candidates.

Texas PG and Brampton, ON native Cory Joseph returned to the Greater Toronto Area on Wednesday for a pre-draft workout with the Raptors. Speaking to media afterwards, Joseph talked about being a traditional point guard and his life-long friendship with fellow draftee and Texas alum Tristan Thompson.