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Sources: Chicago Bulls exercise fourth-year option for Cameron Payne

Cameron Payne has averaged 13.2 minutes in his NBA career. (AP)
Cameron Payne has averaged 13.2 minutes in his NBA career. (AP)

The Chicago Bulls have exercised the fourth-year team option for guard Cameron Payne, league sources told The Vertical on Friday.

Payne’s option for the 2018-19 season is worth $3.2 million as part of the four-year rookie deal he signed in 2015. There had been questions around the league about whether Chicago would pick up the rookie option ahead of Monday’s deadline.

Payne underwent surgery to repair a foot injury in September and was announced as out for three to four months. Payne, 23, has made strides in his rehab and remains on target for a full recovery. He has averaged five points and 1.9 assists over 88 NBA games.

The 6-foot-3 Payne was the 14th overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft out of Murray State, where he solidified himself as a scoring and facilitating guard. He was traded to Chicago last season after a year and a half with Oklahoma City.

The Bulls also exercised team options on Kris Dunn, Denzel Valentine, Jerian Grant and Bobby Portis, who was involved in a physical altercation with Nikola Mirotic.