By Steve Schaefer and Tim Schlittner

Andy Rautins is staying in Orange and Blue, after being selected by the Knicks with the 38th pick in the NBA Draft last night. Otto’s Army’s resident Knick fans Steve Schaefer and Tim Schlittner break down the selection.

Schaefer: Ok Tim, I’m seeing a lot of stories this morning describing the Knicks draft as uneventful, but for fans like us whose loyalties lie equally in the Carrier Dome and MSG it was anything but boring.

What was your reaction when you saw the pick, and do you think Andy can actually stick with this team (remember, 2nd-rounders don’t get guaranteed contracts and the Knicks real offseason doesn’t start until free agency begins July 1)?

Schlittner: My reaction was one of elation. Elation for Rautins who was drafted higher than he could have ever dreamed; elation for the Knicks who are getting a player that can shoot the lights out and play defense; elation at the prospect of dual sharpshooters in Rautins and Danilo Gallinari. Mostly, elation because I believe Rautins will be a good fit in Mike D’Antoni’s offensive system and already has great familiarity with MSG. Given the fact that the Knicks have only 6 players under contract and one of them is named Eddy Curry, I do think Rautins will make the final roster. What was your reaction to the pick? Think we can get Otto’s Army to send us out to Las Vegas to cover his summer league performance?

Schaefer: We’ll have to check with the Otto’s Army billing department, but I definitely think a trip to the Vegas summer league is in order. I’m not sold on Andy’s ability to cover opposing two-guards man to man, but he’s a great help defender and let’s not forget that D’Antoni’s system isn’t exactly built to create grind-it-out defensive slugfests. It’s about fast breaks and knocking down open shots, two things Rautins excels at.

I was parked on my couch watching the draft last night and here’s the text message I sent to OA’s founder moments after Portland took Nevada point Armon Johnson with the fourth pick in Round 2 — “This Johnson kid was who the Knicks wanted. They could possibly take Rautins.”

Even as I typed out that message I still doubted it would happen. The Knicks were picking in the first half of the second round after all. This wasn’t a throwaway pick at the very end of the draft. That being said, I’m not exactly certain the Knicks will keep him once everything shakes out in free agency. If they do, what do you think his ceiling is? Can he be a role player sharpshooter like Steve Kerr? Could he actually take The Leap after a few seasons a la JJ Redick?

Schlittner: Wow. Really? I need you to forward me that text with a time stamp. I thought Tom Sullivan’s piece earlier this year comparing Rautins to Redick had a lot of interesting points. Clearly, the former comes out of college with much less acclaim, but his basketball smarts and ability to shoot can keep him around. I actually like the Kerr analogy even better and think Rautins’ game is more well rounded.  So indulge me for a second, wouldn’t Rautins be a perfect wing guy for LeBron James?

Schaefer: Tim, you’ve hit the nail on the head here. When I went to sleep last night I had visions of LeBron grabbing a rebound at MSG in that crisp, white #6 Knicks home jersey, steaming down the court with Rautins and Gallinari on the wings and dishing off to Andy for a backbreaking three.

That’s what I think was so inspired about this pick by the Knicks. A lot of teams that may have drafted Rautins later would have asked him to do things that aren’t his strong suits — come off the bench to give the point guard a breather, play lockdown defense at the two-spot, etc. Don’t get me wrong, I think Andy can do those things, but what the Knicks want him to do — run the floor, knock down open shots, find cutters in the lane — is exactly what he has spent the last four years in Syracuse perfecting.

We’re probably running up against our word limit here, so let’s wrap it up with these last two questions. What chance do you think Andy has of being on the Knicks opening night roster and what did you think of Wes Johnson’s pants last night?

Schlittner: The thought of that combination makes me salivate to the point where I’m thinking about a season ticket package right now. And maybe even buying a Rautins #1 jersey (bye bye Duhon). I’m going to say he has a 75 percent chance of making it. I agree with you that this was much more of a strategic pick than a gamble. It’s good to bleed orange and blue today.

And I loved Wes’ pants. I wear them every Christmas morning.

H/T to Bleacher Report’s Kevin Roberts for calling Rautins to the Knicks.