Report: Gustavo Ayon signs 3-year, $6.7M deal with Real Madrid
Who knew Gustavo Ayon would be the player with the most confusing free agency this summer?
In early September, the Mexican center was reportedly getting "richer" offers overseas than stateside, and would consider leaving the NBA for money. Shortly after, reports came that he had signed with Real Madrid of the Spanish ACB league, only for those reports to be refuted. Then, Ayon supposedly had an offer from the San Antonio Spurs.
Well, apparently it's all now official: Ayon will be paid - well - to man the pivot for Real Madrid for the next three seasons. According to Eurobasket, the contract is worth €5.2 million. The deal works out to about $6.7 million over three seasons, one year longer and slightly more lucrative annually than the NBA's bi-annual exception.
It's unclear if the Spurs or another team were willing to offer Ayon anything more than the $948,163 minimum for someone with his experience, an amount Ayon was reportedly unwilling to accept.
The center could be back to the NBA soon, as his deal reportedly has an NBA escape clause each summer. That may have been the difference-maker in Ayon choosing Madrid over Barcelona or Shandong of the Chinese CBA, both of whom are said to have made firm offers at one point.
A representative for Ayon confirmed the signing to La Aficion, telling them "he (Ayon) goes on Sunday to Madrid," and that it's "already a fact."
Let the rebounds take you over, Real Madrid.