Sources: Kosta Koufos will exercise option and return to Kings

Sacramento Kings center Kosta Koufos will exercise his 2018-19 player option worth $8.7 million to return to the club, league sources said Wednesday.

The 10-year veteran opted to bypass free agency and instead test the market in the summer of 2019.

Koufos, 29, signed a four-year, $33 million deal with the Kings in 2015.

As one of the veteran leaders on a young, rebuilding franchise, the 7-footer averaged 6.7 points and pulled down a career-high 6.6 rebounds in 71 games this past season.

Koufos was taken with the 23rd overall pick out of Ohio State in the 2008 NBA draft.