The Charlotte Hornets low-balled Kemba Walker this summer with an offer that was nowhere near the supermax contract that their former franchise star was eligible to get.
The now-Boston Celtics point guard apparently had a gut feeling that he wasn't going to get the offer he wanted from the franchise that he called home for the first eight years of his career.
Article Continues Below“Tough days, f—ing tough days, I can’t even lie,” Walker told Shams Charania of The Athletic. “Excuse my language. It was difficult. I couldn’t see myself just being on another team. It was just hard. That’s all I’ve known was Charlotte. Definitely some tough times. I had a feeling that I wasn’t going to get the offer that I wanted, and maybe not close to it, because of cap space.
“I had to get my head wrapped around the feeling and picking another team.”
Prior to hitting free agency, Walker had been vocal that his priority was with the Hornets. He even expressed that he was willing to sign less than the $221 million supermax deal he was qualified to sign.
Unfortunately, Charlotte did not feel the same way about him. The Hornets reportedly offered Walker a five-year $160 million deal, roughly $61 million short of his projected supermax.
Walker ended up signing with the Celtics on a four-year $141 million contract. Now, Walker is ready to start a new chapter in his career with Boston. He figures to be leader of this young Celtics squad that has a promising core of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart – all of whom will play with Walker for Team USA in this year's FIBA World Cup.