On Thursday, June 17, Andy Rautins (G, Syracuse, 6’4, 195 lbs.) worked out for the Washington Wizards along with Chas McFarland (C, Wake Forest, 7’0, 245 lbs.), Kevin Palmer (G/F, Texas A&M-CC, 6’6, 205 lbs.), Dexter Pittman (C, Texas, 6’10, 290 lbs.), Terrico White (G, Mississippi, 6’5, 213 lbs.) and Darington Hobson (G/F, New Mexico, 6’7, 205 lbs.) (Note: Hobson actually did not work out for the Wizards because he tweaked his ankle). Get the run-down on Rautins and check his post-workout interview video below…
Another guy who also worked out on June 17th that I didn’t mention above is John Wall. But he was all by his lonesome for an 11 am session, Rautins started with the rest of those guys around noon.
By the time I arrived at the Verizon Center just after 11 to catch a glimpse of the end of Wall’s workout, Rautin’s name had already become a punchline several times over.
“You here to see Andy Rautins?,” came from several mouths in the press lounge packed with excited media members anxiously waiting to see Wall. A light chuckle with a side of ‘yucks’ usually followed.
Somebody asked me and I just shrugged my shoulders. I honestly didn’t know who the hell Andy Rautins was … just figured he was some white dude who could shoot the rock. I guess I was right.
The Run-Down on Andy Rautins:
- 6’5″ three point bomber, not much else.
- Low athleticism, high IQ.
- Senior year stats: 12.1 points, 40.7 3P%, 2.8 3PM, 6.9 3PA, 60% eFG
- Not a terrible passer though: 4.9 AST, 2.8 TOV
- Trying to prove he can play point and that he’s “more than just a shooter”; says he’s played a lot of one guard in his NBA workouts.
- Says his game is “a little bit between Dan Majerle and Steve Nash.”
- Compared to Matt Carroll by NBADraft.net.
- ESPN’s Chad Ford ranks Rautins 56th overall (mocks him to the Magic at pick 59).
- His father is Leo Rautins, coach of the Canadian national men’s basketball team who also served a very brief in the NBA. Leo also played at Syracuse and was the first Canadian ever to be taken in the first round of the NBA draft.
- Andy was born in Jamesville, NY and attended high school in the U.S. but has suited up for the Canadian national team since 2005.
- Will play for Canada in the FIBA World Championships in Turkey this summer.
- In his interview, Rautins tells Matt Bonner to get his papers right so he can play for Canada too.
- Rautins also pleads his case to Steve Nash. He says: “Steve, if you’re out there, we’d obviously love to have you.”
- Rautins also talks about teammate Wesley Johnson in his interview, praising his humility.
- There’s a Twitter account called: @andyrautinshair.
Post Wizards Workout Interview:
[video courtesy of Adam McGinnis, Truth About It.net]
