NBA Draft 2014: Dante Exum Overtakes Jabari Parker In Latest Mock Draft! Australian Phenom’s Versatility Takes The Edge Despite Lack Of College Experience

The latest edition of the mock draft has been released. There is a major change at the top, as Dante Exum of Australia is projected to slide past Jabari Parker of Duke.

The NBA draft in 2014 is touted to be one of the best. There are a lot of talented prospects and there is no clear frontrunner but for quite some time Joel Embiid of the Kansas Jayhawks has held on to the number one spot. The need for a legitimate center and the fact that Embiid has a lot more room for improvement is slowly convincing the scouts to sway in his favor.

Chad Ford, ESPN's draft expert who made this mock draft based on information from various scouts and coaches, explains why Exum, who is not even in the NCAA overtook Jabari Parker who is leading one of the nation's best programs:

"The Magic are in the market for a point guard, and Exum would be the perfect complement to Victor Oladipo. Both players can handle either backcourt position and both bring great athletic ability to the table. If Exum can become a lights-out shooter, he has the chance to be a superstar."

Ford explains that the mock draft "is not a ranking of who we think the top players are. Instead, it's a reporting tool to convey our latest intel from NBA scouts and GMs on what each team might do in the draft."

Based on current records, the Orlando Magic would pick no.3. That will still change at the end of the season and after the lottery.

Exum was reportedly coveted by the LA Lakers who are projected to pick at no.6 which would net them Julius Randle of Kentucky.

If Orlando passes on Jabari Parker, the projected no.4 team will definitely grab him. The Boston Celtics have the fourth worst record, and getting Jabari would be a triumph, even for a skeptic like Danny Ainge. Ford explains: "GM Danny Ainge isn't as in love with this draft as much as the rest of the league, but he'll still be stoked to land Parker here. Parker's abilities as a scorer and rebounder could make him an immediate upgrade at the 3 while giving the Celtics more incentive to move Jeff Green this summer."

Rounding out the top 5: Embiid, Andrew Wiggins also of Kansas, Exum, Parker and Marcus Smart of Oklahoma State.