Um, well it sure seems like it.
Hard to say for sure because we don't know all the facts. But here's what we do know.
Apparently Ashton Gibbs is prepared to make a decision on whether or not to stay in the NBA Draft before the workout for NBA scouts in May. While other parts of this who NBA Draft story are disputed/clouded, this one is not.
Gibbs' father, Temple Gibbs (who's becoming more and more of a mouthpiece for Gibbs, it seems) doesn't dispute the fact that his son's decision will come before the important two-day workout session:
Temple Gibbs did say, however, that Ashton will not wait for feedback from NBA coaches and general managers because "there's not enough time."
Previously in the story, it says that Jamie Dixon (like most of us, I'm sure) expected Gibbs' decision to come after the important workout. Now, Temple's partially correct when he cites the short turnaround ... players would need to decide that same day to keep themselves in the draft or withdrawal their names. However, waiting still seems (on the surface, anyway) like the right thing to do. I'd say that's especially true in the case of Gibbs who is looking like a borderline pick to begin with.
Now, the next part of this somewhat interesting tale is the confusing part.
The extremely credible ZagsBlog says that Ashton said via text:
BOSTON – Pittsburgh sophomore guard Ashton Gibbs says he plans to remain in the NBA Draft and not return to school.
"I feel I can play at the NBA level," Gibbs said by text. "I’m looking forward to the challenge. When I entered the Draft, I entered to work my hardest to get drafted."
Now, to me, in reading the quote, it doesn't flat out say that Gibbs is keeping his name in the draft. But the first line in the article does essentially say it. So that may be where the dispute comes. Now, I'm not sure if there are other quotes where Gibbs specifically said he had made his mind up, but if this is what we're going on, then, sorry, I don't read it as a guarantee.
Temple Gibbs, the father of Pitt junior guard Ashton Gibbs, disputed an Internet report that Gibbs had made up his mind about staying in the NBA draft.
"It’s not true," Temple Gibbs said. "I don’t know where he got that. We’re considering the draft and school equally. I don’t really have comment on that other than to say it’s not true."
Still, there are other sources out there saying Gibbs is NBA-bound. But who can really tell at this point?
Anyway, head over to the Trib and you get a completely different story. John Grupp says that Gibbs WILL use the workouts to determine if he stays in:
Pitt will have to wait until the last minute to learn if Ashton Gibbs is staying in the NBA Draft.
The all-Big East junior guard will participate in a mass workout for draft prospects May 7-8 at the New Jersey Nets' practice facility in East Rutherford, N.J.
May 8 is the deadline to withdraw from the NBA Draft and retain college eligibility. The 6-foot-2 Gibbs, who led Pitt in scoring each of the past two seasons, will use the workout to gauge interest in pro teams before making his decision. Gibbs, a Scotch Plains, N.J., native, has not hired an agent.
Um, what?
Well, we know from Temple's quote that this appears to be flat out wrong. So disregarding the Trib piece, I still can't wrap my arms around the fact that Gibbs is making a decision before the workouts. That just doesn't make sense to me.
The Trib piece does mention that the Nets (and I'd guess other teams) will be holding pre-draft workouts before the May two-day workout/combine. So, if you're Gibbs, why not wait and hope to be invited to some of these individual team workouts and then make a decision?
I don't know, the whole thing just reeks of a rushed decision.
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