13. Portland Trail Blazers (Dave) - Brandon Rush, SG/SF, Kansas
The Blazers don't really need another off-guard right now with Rudy Fernandez coming in but it's hard to pass up a guy who can shoot and defend and stands 6'7" in the backcourt. Plus Rush is from Kansas, which makes him both a champion and a fellow alumnus with Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard. He could be the sleeper of the draft. If not, little harm done.
14. Golden State Warriors (Scott) - Donte Green, SF/PF, Syracuse
The Warriors picked a good year to not make the playoffs, as they get a better draft slot in a year that will likely mean more given all of their pending Free Agents. This move is based on the assumption that the team will decide to part ways with at least one of their offensive weapons after this season, Green provides the excellent ability to run the floor will allow him to fit in just right. He won't be an All-Star any time soon, but he's a safe selection for an offensive-minded team.
15. Phoenix Suns (Scott) - Darrell Arthur, PF, Kansas
I was hoping that Rush would fall here, but Arthur will suffice. Phoenix longs for players that is athletic, can run the floor, and has a scoring touch. Arthur may not be the next Amare Stoudemire, but he is a combination of all three aspects. He was a big part of Kansas' run in the NCAAs, and will take his ability to hit the jumper to the NBA, where he'll fit in perfectly in Phoenix.
16. Philadelphia 76ers (Brendan) - DeAndre Jordan, F/C, Texas A&M
This guy's name may be the most volatile in the draft. Early in the season, people had him going top five. Now, the consensus is that he will be no higher than the late lottery, probably due to the fact that he is unproven. For the Sixers he is a risk worth taking for three reasons. One, he probably has the most potential of anyone left in this slot. Two, according to scouts, he runs the floor great in transition, which goes together with the 76ers gameplan like peanut butter and jelly. And third, he is about seven feet tall, and this is a team without a lot of height.
17. Toronto Raptors (Brendan) - Nicolas Batum, SG, France
This guy's name has been tossed around for a few years now leading up to the draft. He appears to be young, athletic, and tall, which is a good combination for this Raptors team which runs a fast-paced, high-scoring offense. The Raptors have never shied away from international talent either, and this guy would be sure to please the Francophone population of America's hat (Canada). He also kinda looks like Ray Allen, which leads me to believe he can shoot reasonably well.
18. Washington Wizards (Blake) - Mario Chalmers, PG, Kansas
Ideally, the Wizards head into the draft knowing whether or not they will be able to re-sign Gilbert Arenas. The situation is simple - if Arenas can be kept, the pick is a big (Kosta Koufos, Robin Lopez, Javale McGee), and if he's leaving, they should probably look at a guard. As acting Wizards GM, I'm pessimistic about the possibility of resigning Agent Zero, so I'm reaching into a pool of guards that has been skimmed nearly dry thus far. With Ty Lawson withdrawling from the draft, Mario Chalmers makes the most sense, though he is a stretch at 18. Chalmers is a 2-way guard that has high-end defensive potential and can contribute almost immediately.