By Matt Moore
CBSSports.com NBA writer
With workouts beginning, there are some interesting trends accelerating as we get closer to the draft. The "Big 3" is becoming the "Big 2" with Joel Embiid, despite his back issue, and Andrew Wiggins separating themselves from Jabari Parker. Meanwhile, Noah Vonleh, Dante Exum, Marcus Smart, and Aaron Gordon have made strides which have solidified the second tier along with Julius Randle and Parker.
There are guys like Jordan Clarkson from Missouri, who is wowing people in workouts, and the momentum of Adreian Payne as he creeps closer and closer to the top ten.
There's a good chance Parker doesn't fall past his season-long top-3 standing. But workout season brings weird trends, and there's always a wrench thrown in the top five. I wouldn't be shocked at all if Parker slips as he does in this edition of the mock draft.
And I still can't justify Dario Saric in the top seven.
Here's this week's mock.
NBA MOCK DRAFT - 06/04/2014
ROUND 1
1. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS - Joel Embiid, C, Kansas: There are a lot of ways this could go wrong, but you just can't have your first act as GM be to pass up Joel Embiid. He's too much of everything good. (Previous: 2)
2. MILWAUKEE BUCKS - Andrew Wiggins, SF, Kansas: No brainer for Milwaukee. They get a transcendent star to build around slowly. Now they just need to dump all that contract material they signed last year. (Previous: 1)
3. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS - Noah Vonleh, PF, Indiana: REACH ALERT. Listen, if Sam Hinkie's not getting a transcendent star, what did he tank for? He goes for the maximum upside here, in the belief that Vonleh and Noel combine to form some sort of space pterodactyl. Parker's the obvious go here, but with limited ceiling and athleticism, he doesn't fit the Hinkie profile. (Previous: 5)
4. ORLANDO MAGIC - Dante Exum, SG, Australia: I have reservations about this. The Magic seem high on him, and Exum has leapt into top-four consideration. But given your franchise history... do you really want to be drafting another talented, engaging athlete with a soft spot in his heart for LA? (Previous: 4)
5. UTAH JAZZ - Jabari Parker, SF, Duke: This makes obscene amounts of sense. Parker slips, and the Mormon goes to Salt Lake City and it's perfect. He's also a great fit with the team and can play with Hayward, Kanter, or Favors in certain lineups. This is a no-brainer, to the point I genuinely want this to happen. (Previous: 3)
23. UTAH JAZZ (VIA GOLDEN STATE) - Elfrid Payton, PG, Louisiana-Lafayette: They like what they have in Trey Burke, but Payton is a great pickup here. (Previous: 28)
35. UTAH JAZZ - Jordan Clarkson, SG, Missouri: Clarkson has been a star in workouts, shining in interviews and in shooting drills. (Previous: 39)