Spurs interested in Mexico’s Gustavo Ayon

[alh1020]

Gustavo Ayon has played for four teams in his three NBA seasons, and finished last year as a member of the Atlanta Hawks. His numbers were underwhelming, but size is always given multiple chances at the professional level. So, even at 29 years of age, his 6’10” frame was always going to continue to get some serious looks.

Ayon currently only has offers to play overseas next season, but he will be playing for Mexico in the FIBA World Cup which begins on Friday. A strong showing there could generate some newfound NBA interest, although one team reportedly has seen enough, to the point where adding Ayon for next season may be a real possibility.

From Marc Stein of ESPN.com:

Interesting rumble just dribbled in on eve of FIBA World Cup: Reigning champs San Antonio have registered interest in Mexico’s Gustavo Ayon
Spurs, I’m told, still determined to re-sign Aussie C Aron Baynes but also like Mexico’s Ayon, who’s among top free agents in FIBA World Cup

Baynes averaged 9.3 minutes per game in 54 regular season appearances for San Antonio last year, and appeared in 14 playoff games as well, where he averaged 7.2 minutes per contest.

If San Antonio believes Ayon could be an upgrade for some or all of those minutes, they may take a chance on him. And, it’s worth noting that it would be very Spurs-like to snatch him up before he has a chance to have even a single breakout performance in international play over the next couple of weeks.

Link to article: Report: Spurs interested in Mexico’s Gustavo Ayon | ProBasketballTalk

[Spurd_On]

If Gustavo Ayon is an upgrade to a player on your team, that player probably doesn't belong in the NBA.

[WILLTHETHRILL]

They have liked this guy since way before he came to the NBA. I'm not surprised by their interest in him

[MRJONESIII]

Still, like the Spurs fans need anything more to cheer their beloved Spurs... A true Latino would be the icing on the cake. I know we have Manu, but he's not from Mexico. They'd be adding a little more authentic Spice to the team.

[Uwe Blab]

As a Latino, I couldn't care less if he's Latino if he's just a stiff. Get someone who can play. I'll be a Spurs fan for another 35 years either way.

[clovisnmspurfan]

Originally Posted by MRJONESIII

Still, like the Spurs fans need anything more to cheer their beloved Spurs... A true Latino would be the icing on the cake. I know we have Manu, but he's not from Mexico. They'd be adding a little more authentic Spice to the team.

Being 3/4 Hispanic and 1/4 German I would agree only if he can contribute something on the court.

[drcantgetright]

Does Ayers need a back-up?

NO!

[jackc852]

Small sample size, but he looks very much like a Spurs-type player.

[alh1020]

Based on these two clips, I’d have to agree with jackc and wonder why Ayon isn’t wearing the silver and black yet. However, two games don’t necessarily solidify a position on the Spurs which I think Austin Daye can attest to now since he might be on the verge of being waived, I’d image. Ayon looks to possess some pretty good offensive moves and capabilities, ie., passing, outside shooting, creating a shot, interior offensive game which looked impressive. These two clips look to be of games played a year apart (2/10/2013 and 2/11/2014) and based on these, I’d have to wonder if his best potential lies during the month of February and if not, what might be holding this guy back. Aside from that, he looked good. With the Spurs being linked to two rumors now (Ayon and Ray Allen), is something a-brewing in the Spurs camp when we already have 14 active, guaranteed contracts (I think)?

[MRJONESIII]

Originally Posted by clovisnmspurfan

Being 3/4 Hispanic and 1/4 German I would agree only if he can contribute something on the court.

That's the beauty of being a Spurs player... As long as the effort is there, they'll love him cause he's a Spur!

[alh1020]

Originally Posted by MRJONESIII

That's the beauty of being a Spurs player... As long as the effort is there, they'll love him cause he's a Spur!

And stay out of Pop's doghouse.

[jackc852]

A few more. Again, small sample size but he seems to move very well without the ball and comfortable putting the ball on the court with a short-to-midrange J. Very nice court vision as well. Not sure how he is compared to Tiago on offense, but he definitely seems less stiff. On D, he appears to be a pretty good help defender but didn't see much of his 1-on-1 defense.

Much better hands than Ayres.

[Eddy from Austin]

Mexico got beat by Slovenia, but Gustavo was the top scorer from both teams with 23 pts.
Slovenia vs. Mexico - Box Score - August 31, 2014 - ESPN

[WILLTHETHRILL]

Please get rid of Ayres. I gave up on bonner lol

[clovisnmspurfan]

Originally Posted by WILLTHETHRILL

Please get rid of Ayres. I gave up on bonner lol

It is about time!!

[JuanCaca]

he moves well, and it appears he is the engine of our (unfortunately not so good) mexican team... but, how is his defense?? if he can defend, i really hope spurs sign him. that could mean spurs coverage on my country channels/news... i hate they always kiss lebron team arses and kobe lakers arses before...

[alh1020]

For those who are interested, FIBA action tomorrow (3Sep) at 6:30AM (Central time) between Mexico (Ayon) and Australia (Baynes) on NBA-TV.

[JuanCaca]

great... i can imagine some statement banging from aron lolol :-)

[drcantgetright]

I want Baynes back. Ayon wouldn't be terrible. Ayers is terrible. just terrible.

[WILLTHETHRILL]

Trade ayres!

[grizzly_bexar]

I never saw enough of this guy to have an opinion on him vs. Ayres, but Ayres is not nearly as bad as people seem to think.

[WILLTHETHRILL]

Originally Posted by grizzly_bexar

I never saw enough of this guy to have an opinion on him vs. Ayres, but Ayres is not nearly as bad as people seem to think.

"Hands of Stone" Ayres? He didn't even do very well in summer league either. Not to warrant his salary

[Uwe Blab]

Originally Posted by WILLTHETHRILL

"Hands of Stone" Ayres? He didn't even do very well in summer league either. Not to warrant his salary

Your head must be exploding right now. Ayres is making more than Bonner is.

The Spurs value the "system" guys. Ayres and Bonner are those kind of guys. They come to work, don't complain and are ready to contribute whether they played the last game or haven't played in 30 games.

[JuzzyG]

Baynes was a beast offensively, certainly helping his market value this tournament. Ayon couldn't stop him. Someone needs to teach Baynes how to play pick and roll defense though...

[drcantgetright]

cant fix hands of stone.

[Spurd_On]

Going by the reports, it sounds like Aron Baynes seriously shut down Ayon in the Mexico matchup with Australia.

[Kager]

Baynesy did well to restrict him but it was his own offence that did the damage as Ayon had early fouls and never recovered.

[JuanCaca]

i watched a few minutes of the game... and while ayon was strugling, i was impressed by a secuence where ayon run with the ball in a fast break (was fouled and almost hurt his foot) but was suprised to see he actually run pretty decent the floor...

[firefox86182]

he would actually be a slight upgrade over banes. The thing about the big banger is im not quite sure if actually know how to play basketball...I mean he knows how to be big that's for sure. But it doesnt seem to come naturally for him. Gustavo is a decent role player that has shown flashes of being pretty good.

[JuanCaca]

Usa is destroying México, but ayon is doing good against usa bigs, and is 1/6 from the line lolol spurs material

[alh1020]

Gustavo Ayon prefers to play in NBA over Europe next season

Link to article: Report: Gustavo Ayon prefers to play in NBA over Europe next season | ProBasketballTalk

Gustavo Ayon was the one bright spot in Mexico’s 86-63 loss to Team USA on Saturday, finishing with 25 points on 11-of-19 shooting, to go along with eight rebounds.

That performance may draw some attention from NBA teams in terms of considering adding Ayon for next season. But as of now, the offers are far more lucrative to play overseas.

From Marc Stein of ESPN.com:

ESPN sources say Gustavo Ayon certainly prefers to play in NBA next season but at this point his offers from Europe have simply been richer

Ayon has been handful for USA bigs even though they’re obviously zeroing in on him. Yet I suspect he’ll pass on NBA unless offers improve

The Spurs recently registered interest, but it’s unclear if things ever got to the offer stage, and if so, whether San Antonio would commit enough to match the ones that are more concrete at this time.

Ayon appeared confident as Mexico’s best player against Team USA, and put in a strong showing, even with Anthony Davis patrolling the paint defensively. That will need to translate in his workouts for NBA teams if he wants to improve his stateside reputation, and entice someone to give him an offer that will rival those he’ll receive to play in Europe next season.

[Spurd_On]

So why doesn't ESPN give us a ball park estimate of what teams over seas are offering him so that the situation can be put into NBA context? Right now all we can assume is that it is something better than the League minimum by enough to take his services to Europe. The Spurs still need to negotiate a contract with Baynes which could jump a little from their initial offer. My amateur guess is that the Spurs, if the interest even proves to be substantiated, are willing to go as high as a Jeff Ayes salary.

[MichaelWi101]

HoopsHype reports he's signed with Real Madrid, they link to this story (In Spanish)

[JuanCaca]

i dont believe it, still nothing in mexico news, tv azteca deportes mexico is always covering gustavo...

and what about this? Update: Free agent Ayon hopes Spurs rumors are true, says he has only one offer | Project Spurs

[alh1020]

Originally Posted by JuanCaca

i dont believe it, still nothing in mexico news, tv azteca deportes mexico is always covering gustavo...
and what about this? Update: Free agent Ayon hopes Spurs rumors are true, says he has only one offer | Project Spurs

That one remark from your Project Spurs article that says “Ayon now is saying he hopes the rumor the San Antonio Spurs are interested in him are true…” I interpret to mean Ayon hasn’t heard from the Spurs personally. If the Spurs were interested, they probably talked to Ayon’s agent who may not be sharing that info with his client and instead is looking for more ducats in a contract elsewhere. Or maybe using the 'Spurs are interested' ploy is in place to pry a bigger contract from another suitor, China or Real Madrid. I think watching Ayon and Mexico in the FIBA playoffs will be the closest the Spurs get to him.

[alh1020]

Here's another article that supports Michael's post above:

Gustavo Ayon spurns minimum offers to play in NBA, reaches deal with Real Madrid

Gustavo Ayon wanted to stay in the NBA, but in the end this is a business and he made the business decision.

Ayon was trying to find his space on the Hawks last season when shoulder surgery shut him down for the year in February. He showed in the FIBA World Cup he was back, leading Mexico to the knockout round then putting up 25 points and 11 rebounds on Team USA’s front line in a losing effort. He looked solid.

But the offers that were coming in to return to the NBA, with the Spurs and others, were for the league minimum.

Which is why he has signed to play for more money from Real Madrid in Spain, something reported by solobasket.com (via Hoopshype).

Ayon played in Spain for years before coming to the NBA.

Ayon is very skilled which helped make up for the fact most NBA centers he went up against were more athletic than him. But he was fairly efficient (although that stepped back last season with the injury) and was a good passer and finisher. His free throw percentage (40 percent last season) was always an issue helping keep his minutes down.

This is a business for players, they have a limited window to earn money as a professional player and while for the All Stars that populate Team USA that means eight figures a year, for a lot of guys its about making as much as they can right now before that well goes dry. Real Madrid is a top European team that pays well, if Ayon will make significantly more there he had to make this move.

We’ll see if down the line an NBA team ponies up more to bring him back to North America.

Link to article: Gustavo Ayon spurns minimum offers to play in NBA, reaches deal with Real Madrid | ProBasketballTalk

[JuanCaca]

dang

[MRJONESIII]

He has to come up with 376k buyout before he can sign with Real Madrid.