The Charlotte Hornets only offered Kemba Walker $160 million over five years, approximately $60 million less than his max after earning All-NBA honors.

Walker didn't demand the full supermax from the Hornets.

“We had great years with him, and we didn’t get into the playoffs,” Mitch Kupchak said. “What makes us think that next year (would) be different?”

“I’ve got to step back and look at where we’ve been and where we’re going. Chart out a course that gives us the best chance to build something that is sustainable for more than a year or two.”

Kupchak also defended the Hornets against criticism that they should have traded Walker rather than letting him leave in free agency as he signed with the Boston Celtics.

“Almost every offer revolved around draft picks. It was always lottery-protected.,” Kupchak said. “When you do something like that, you’re saying you’re going to draft a player in the teens, we don’t know how good he’s going to be, and it’s going to take three or four years (to realize value). We wanted to keep Kemba — under the right conditions.”