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Hornets' Walker on free-agent losses: 'It sucks'

Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images Sport / Getty

After returning to the playoffs last season, the Charlotte Hornets lost several key pieces in free agency, namely Jeremy Lin, Al Jefferson, and Courtney Lee.

Starting point guard Kemba Walker is bummed out about his teammates leaving.

"It sucks," he told Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer.

"But that's the business: You're always going to play with some new guys every year. You think about Big Al, who I wish we could have kept. He helped change this franchise around big time from the day he got here."

Walker, who's spent all five of his NBA seasons in Charlotte, has mixed feelings about Lin signing with the Brooklyn Nets after one year with the Hornets.

"I hate to see him go, but at the same time I'm definitely happy for him," the former UConn Husky said. "He deserves to be a starter in this league. He's such a great player and he proved that last season. There were games where I was off and he carried the team."

Walker wasn't off often in 2015-16, when he averaged a career-high 20.9 points and 4.4 rebounds to go along with 5.2 dimes and 1.6 steals. He also finished second in Most Improved Player award voting.

In light of all the outgoing players, the former first-round pick anticipates his squad will be written off ahead of the upcoming campaign. That motivates him.

"We're pumped," he said.

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