The Chicago Bulls today announced the team has exercised the fourth-year option on guard Kirk Hinrich, guaranteeing him for the 2006-07 season.

?Kirk is a very big piece of this team?s foundation. He is a great leader for our team both on and off the floor and I am very excited to watch him continue to develop,? said Bulls Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations John Paxson.

In 153 appearances, including 143 starts, Hinrich holds career averages of 13.9 ppg, 6.6 apg, 3.7 rpg, 1.46 spg and 36.0 mpg and is a career .392 shooter from the field, including .372 from three-point range, and .797 from the free throw line. He has also finished among NBA leaders in assists per game in his first two seasons. The 6-3, 190-pound guard was selected by the Bulls in the first round (seventh overall) of NBA Draft 2003.