The Associated Press reports that the Sacramento Kings have exercized the team option on Hedo Turkoglu's contract. He is now guaranteed through the 2003-04 season.

Turkoglu averaged 10.1 points and 4.5 rebounds in 80 games last season as the Kings' second-leading scorer among reserves. He started eight playoff games while All-Star Peja Stojakovic was out with a sprained ankle.

The Kings are expected to increase both Turkoglu's playing time and his responsibilities during the upcoming season. He will play both forward and guard, team president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie said.

Turkoglu was selected 16th overall in the 2000 draft, becoming the NBA's first Turkish-born player. He played for Turkey at the World Championships in Indianapolis earlier this month. Much of his NBA salary is used to pay the European club team that signed Turkoglu to a lengthy contract when he was still a teenager.