HoopsHype.com Rumors

"I've spoken with a couple of European teams already, but mostly out of courtesy because there's a very small chance he plays in Europe," Duran said. "I would be surprised if New Orleans doesn't exercise the contract option. But if that happened, I would be very surprised if Ayon doesn't play in the NBA with another team next season anyway. There was interest from other teams like Denver and Oklahoma City in the past. He's done more than enough to warrant another contract." HoopsHype

Denver Nuggets, New Orleans Hornets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Gustavo Ayon 

Gustavo Ayon: I'm ready to assist my country's National Team. Twitter

New Orleans Hornets, Mexico, Gustavo Ayon 

Gustavo Ayon is willing to play at Centrobasket with the Mexican National Team. Terra.com

New Orleans Hornets, Mexico, Gustavo Ayon 

A USA Today report Friday indicated the Hornets would pick up the option on forward Gustavo Ayon for next season. In reality, the team would not have to exercise that option until July, so it’s unlikely that move would be made much before then. General Manager Dell Demps could not be reached for comment. It is likely, however, that Ayon’s play this season — he’s averaging 6.3 points and 4.9 rebounds — has earned him a contract with the Hornets for next season, and possibly beyond. New Orleans Times-Picayune

New Orleans Hornets, Gustavo Ayon 

The New Orleans Hornets are expected to pick up the $1.5 million option on the contract of rookie forward-center Gustavo Ayon, a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports. USA Today

New Orleans Hornets, Gustavo Ayon 

The league-owned Hornets deactivated Kaman last week and told the former All-Star on Friday that he could wait at home while team officials tried to find a new trade home for him. But after discussions with numerous teams, sources said, New Orleans has decided to end those talks and recall Kaman, although it wasn't immediately clear what sort of role he'll have after Hornets coach Monty Williams announced last week that getting minutes for young players such as Jason Smith, Al-Farouq Aminu and Gustavo Ayon was the staff's priority. ESPN.com

New Orleans Hornets, Trade, Monty Williams, Al-Farouq Aminu, Jason Smith, Gustavo Ayon 

Even though New Orleans Hornets forward Gustavo Ayon received his U.S. work visa on Thursday, the 6 foot 9 power forward and native of Mexico will still be brought along slowly toward his NBA indoctrination. Holiday government office closures delayed the processing of Ayon's paperwork and he has not been an active practice participant. THat could change now, though it's still unlikely Ayon will be playing in a game any time soon. "It's done; he got it (Thursday)," general manager Dell Demps said Friday morning of the visa. "He's cleared and ready to go. He's available to play. But he's still learning the system. We want to bring him along slow. There's no rush to bring him out here and throw him to the wolves. He's still making the transition, learning the plays. He didn't come to training camp, so it will take him a little while." New Orleans Times-Picayune

New Orleans Hornets, Gustavo Ayon 

The New Orleans Hornets aren’t in a hurry to integrate power forward Gustavo Ayon into game action, and until Ayon receives a work visa to ply his trade in the United States, he’ll continue to be more spectator than participant. General Manager Dell Demps said Wednesday there was no major issue in obtaining the paperwork that will enable Ayon to fully participate in practice and games, but the Christmas holiday brought the process to a halt because government offices were closed. New Orleans Times-Picayune

New Orleans Hornets, Gustavo Ayon 

“We expect to have it all cleared up in the next day or so,” Demps said. “It was just because of the holidays. We’re not letting him practice, either. He’s just shooting around. “We’re going on the side of caution. We expect him to be cleared to play in the next couple of days.” New Orleans Times-Picayune

New Orleans Hornets, Gustavo Ayon 

John Reid: Hornets' Gustavo Ayon not playing tonight because his work visa paperwork didn't get completed in time but he traveled with team to Phx. Twitter

New Orleans Hornets, Gustavo Ayon 

Gustavo Ayon has visa issues and right now he can't play with the Hornets. El Diario

New Orleans Hornets, Gustavo Ayon 

They hope they get the documents tomorrow so he can play on Wednesday against the Celtics. El Diario

New Orleans Hornets, Gustavo Ayon 

Gustavo Ayon, 6 feet 9, 245 pounds, was introduced at a press conference at the Alario Center, where six months earlier he had participated in a free-agent camp hosted by the Hornets in June, after New Orleans assistant general manager Tim Connolly, then general manager Dell Demps, had traveled to Madrid, Spain, to assess Ayon’s ability. Speaking with the translation aid of his manager, Emilio Duran, Ayon said Friday he knew almost at once New Orleans was the his preferred NBA destination. “I am very excited and very happy to be here,” Ayon said. “It has been a dream for me to be in the NBA. ... It all began this summer in the minicamp. It felt right. They were very nice, very inviting, and it felt like the Hornets are the right place.” New Orleans Times-Picayune

New Orleans Hornets, Gustavo Ayon 

The already sizeable New Orleans Hornets’ front line will be getting bigger by the end of the week, when free-agent center Gustavo Ayon arrives for an introductory press conference scheduled for Friday. Ayon, 6 feet 10, 250 pounds, announced at a media briefing in Spain on Wednesday — and sources later confirmed — that he will be joining the Hornets after New Orleans contributed half of the $1.5 million buyout Ayon needed to escape from Madrid’s Fuenbrada team. The Hornets’ scouting staff had seen Ayon several times in the Euroleague before the beginning of the 149-day lockout last summer. New Orleans Times-Picayune

New Orleans Hornets, Gustavo Ayon 

Sources indicated that the Hornets’ half of Ayon’s buyout that facilitated his exit from Madrid — about $525,000 — didn’t come from money the team received from the draft-night transaction with New York that sent second-round draft choice Josh Harrellson to the Knicks. That brought the Hornets about $750,000 in cash. Nicknamed “The Titan,” Ayon also was coveted by the Indiana Pacers and Denver Nuggets this season, and in the past he was sought by the San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns. New Orleans Times-Picayune

New Orleans Hornets, Gustavo Ayon 

Dubi Pick: Source: Mexican big Gustavo Ayon's currently going over his 3-year contract terms w/NOH worth an estimated $1.9M.. Twitter

New Orleans Hornets, Gustavo Ayon 

After a buyout of reportedly $1.5 million, half of which was reportedly covered by the New Orleans Hornets, the Hornets have signed Mexican center Gustavo Ayon, the player said in a press conference in Spain on Wednesday and sources later confirmed. Ayon, listed in various places as 6 foot 9 or 6 foot 10, was scouted extensively by the Hornets prior to the beginning of the 149-day lockout this summer. The Hornets have been in the market for a backup post man and were in talks with Ayon over the weekend. But the major sticking point was the player's buyout from the team for which he played in Spain, Fuenlabrada. Ayon, 245 pounds, has been a member of the Mexican national basketball team since 2007. New Orleans Times-Picayune

New Orleans Hornets, Gustavo Ayon 

In a press conference, Gustavo Ayon confirmed that he is leaving Baloncesto Fuenlabrada and will sign a contract in NBA with New Orleans Hornets. The buyout of the player is $1.5M. New Orleans Hornets will pay $525.000 while the Mexican big man will pay the difference by his own. Sportando

New Orleans Hornets, Spain, Gustavo Ayon, Fuenlabrada 

Emiliano Carchia: Buyout for Ayon with Fuenlabrada is $1.5M: Hornets will pay $525.000. Ayon will pay by his own the difference Twitter

New Orleans Hornets, Spain, Gustavo Ayon, Fuenlabrada 

Emiliano Carchia: Gustavo Ayon, who announced his departure from the NBA this morning in a press conference, will sign a 3-year contract with Hornets Twitter

New Orleans Hornets, Spain, Gustavo Ayon, Fuenlabrada