The Denver Nuggets have exercised the fourth year option on Linas Kleiza’s contract, team Vice President of Basketball Operations Mark Warkentien announced today.

Kleiza has averaged 5.8 ppg and 2.7 rpg in 140 career games for the Nuggets.

Last season he averaged career highs in both ppg (7.6) and rpg (3.4) while playing in a team-most 79 games during 2006-07.

He averaged 15.8 ppg and 4.3 rpg on .522 shooting in six preseason games.

Kleiza was selected in the first round (27th overall) of the 2005 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. The Nuggets acquired his draft rights from Portland in exchange for the draft rights to Jarrett Jack on June 28, 2005.

The Nuggets open the regular season vs. the Seattle SuperSonics on Wednesday night at 8:30 pm.