ROME — The Toronto Raptors exercised the third-year team option on forward Andrea Bargnani's rookie contract Friday.
The move, made during a press conference in the office of Rome mayor Walter Veltroni, locks up the seven-foot Italian through the 2008-09 season. The team retains a fourth-year option on Bargnani for 2009-10.
"Andrea has more than lived up to the enormous expectations thrust on him last season as the top pick of the draft," Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo said in a release. "Exercising the option while in Andrea's hometown of Rome could not be more fitting."
Bargnani became the first Italian born player selected first overall pick in the NBA draft last June after the Raptors won the lottery and focused in on him.
The soon-to-be 22-year-old averaged 11.6 points and 3.9 rebounds in 65 games during his rookie season. He also appeared in six playoff games, averaging 11.0 points after recovering from an appendectomy.
The Raptors are in Rome to face the Boston Celtics and Virtus Lottomatica Roma as part of their pre-season.
