Mar 13, 2013; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards point guard John Wall (2) passes the ball as Milwaukee Bucks power forward Gustavo Ayon (19) defends during the first half at the Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA Today Sports

A number of Mexican media outlets are reporting that the Milwaukee Bucks have exercised their team option for Gustavo Ayón for the 2013-14 season.  Ayón will reportedly make $1.5 million.

Ayón, 28, completed his second season in the NBA in Milwaukee after a midseason trade in February that saw the Bucks send out Tobias Harris, Doron Lamb, and Beno Udrih to Orlando while bringing back Ayón, Ish Smith, and J.J. Redick.

Ayón averaged 4.3 points and 4.9 rebounds in 12 regular-season games with the Bucks.  He also played in three of the Bucks’ four postseason games against Miami.

All in all, it’s a sensible move for the Bucks given the relatively small size of his contract.  Even if Ayón can’t measure up to the defensive standard of other Bucks’ big men like Larry Sanders and Ekpe Udoh, Ayón showed flashes of offensive skill — especially on the baseline — and quickly established himself as the best pick-setter in the Bucks rotation.

April 22, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Derek Fisher (37) defends Los Angeles Lakers small forward Devin Ebanks (3) in the second half of the game at the Staples Center. Lakers won in double OT 114-106. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Flopping is taking a nosedive. Literally.

The NBA implemented rule changes with regards to flopping at the outset of the 2012-13 season. Potential flopping violations are not assessed in-game; instead, they are evaluated by league officials using video review. Per NBA policy, “the primary factor in determining whether a player committed a flop is whether his physical reaction to contact with another player is inconsistent with what would reasonably be expected given the force or direction of the contact.”

To date, 18 violations have been assessed.  As of March 10th, here is the breakdown by month (the season began Oct. 30th):

Granted, February is the shortest month and contains the break for league’s All-Star Weekend, but it is still plainly evident that flopping calls are on the way down.  After marking up 14 violations in the first 60 days of the season, the league has cited just four in the last 72 days.

Either players have figured this thing out, or it is just the case that fewer penalties are being handed out.

First-time violators receive warnings.  Only J.J. Barea, Gerald Wallace, Reggie Evans and Kevin Martin have paid the $5000 fine that accompanies second-time offenses.  The fines elevate up to $30,000 for a fifth offense, and players may be open to higher fines and/or suspensions for penalties beyond the fifth.

Among the Bucks, only Gustavo Ayon has a mark on his record, but his flop came before Orlando traded him to Milwaukee.

Of course, the flops that truly matter are the ones in the playoffs, and the fines for those violations have not yet been announced.  It would be a shame if a player shamelessly took a dive in the final minute of a Game 7 of the NBA Finals.

Whoops.  That already happened.  A LONG time ago.

Below is a classic clip of Mitch Kupchak in going limp in 1978 after taking a harmless bump from Downtown Freddie Brown.

In the Finals.

In Game 7.

In the final minute.

Thankfully, no foul was called and Brown scored anyway.