Their desire to retain Nicolas Batum and Marvin Williams also was significant, and it left leaving little salary-cap space for Lin, whom Charlotte could not go above the cap to retain.
Before signing as a free agent with the Brooklyn Nets, Lin said on social media last season was the most enjoyable year he spent in the NBA.
Even so, Lin could not get the three-year, $36 million deal from Charlotte that he received from Brooklyn. He will be a spectator Friday night when the teams meet at Barclays Center.
Lin is sidelined due to a strained left hamstring.