According to Marc Spears of ESPN, Garrett Temple has opted into the final year of his $8 million contract:

Kings guard Garrett Temple tells @TheUndefeated he will be opting in to his $8 million player option for next season.

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) June 29, 2018

Temple’s decision to stay with the Kings likely stems from a cash-tight free agent market which will open up dramatically next summer. His opt-in is also the last piece in the Kings cap space puzzle, leaving Vlade Divac around $19 million to spend in free agency or to take on bad contracts for draft considerations and young players.

He gives the Kings an experienced presence on the court; a player who can slot it at either guard spot or small forward, while also providing a temptation for a coaching staff who likes to play their veterans. Temple has also an been influential member of the locker room, winning the Oscar Robertson Triple-Double Award for his leadership on and off the court for two straight years, while his generous contributions to the city of Sacramento have endeared him to the community.

Welcome back, Garrett!

(Please don’t start on opening night.)