Gasol exercises $25.6M player option with Raptors

Toronto Raptors center Marc Gasol has opted into his $25.6-million player option, the team announced on Wednesday, according to Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes.

Gasol will enter the final year of his contract with the Raptors after the team acquired him from the Memphis Grizzlies prior to February's trade deadline.

The Spaniard played a key defensive role while contributing to the Raptors' first NBA championship, helping to contain the Orlando Magic's Nikola Vucevic and the Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid.

Gasol spent the first 10-plus seasons of his career as a starter in Memphis, helping the Grizzlies reach the postseason seven straight times. He's a three-time All-Star and was named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year in 2013.

The 34-year-old averaged 9.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and three assists in 24 playoff games for Toronto.