The Bucks have officially exercised their 2013/14 team option on Gustavo Ayon, Hoops Rumors has confirmed. The option is worth $1.5MM and could keep Ayon under contract for one more season before he hits free agency.
Although the Bucks have picked up the option, Ayon's contract remains non-guaranteed, as Mark Deeks details at ShamSports.com. The '13/14 season on Ayon's deal won't become fully guaranteed unless he remains on the roster beyond July 25th, according to Deeks. So this transaction essentially just postpones the team's decision on Ayon by a few weeks.
Ayon, 28, came to Milwaukee as part of the six-player deadline deal that was headlined by the Bucks' acquisition of J.J. Redick. It was the second time the Mexican big man had been moved during the 2012/13 season — he was sent to Orlando last July in exchange for the signed-and-traded Ryan Anderson.
Although Ayon has been relatively productive during his two NBA seasons, he hasn't seen a ton of playing time, averaging 16.7 minutes in 109 career contests. During those games, he has recorded 4.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, a 15.1 PER, and a .542 FG%.
He was decent off the bench in limited time. Hopefully with the departure of Sammy D and a Gooden amnesty he’ll get more playing time.