NBA Trade: Rob Dillingham Heads to Charlotte and Buddy Hield Joins Chicago
Dillingham, selected with the number 8 in the 2024 NBA Draft, leaves the Bulls at just 21 years old and less than a year after joining the franchise during last season's trade deadline
Chicago Bulls has reached an agreement to trade Rob Dillingham to Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Buddy Hield and financial compensation, sources informed Shams Charania of ESPN on Saturday. This operation marks a new change of scenery for a young point guard who had barely spent a few months in Chicago.
Dillingham, selected with the number 8 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, leaves the Bulls at just 21 years old and less than a year after arriving at the franchise during last season’s trade deadline. In the 30 games he played with Chicago, the point guard averaged 9.6 points and 2.8 assists, and now will have the opportunity to start a new chapter in Charlotte.
Dillingham will have a new opportunity in Charlotte
Dillingham's destination may offer him a different scenario. The Hornets traded LaMelo Ball, their starting point guard for years, to the Minnesota Timberwolves earlier this offseason, leaving room for other players to take on greater responsibility in leading the team.
The arrival of Dillingham also comes at a particularly important time for the point guard position in Charlotte. The franchise announced just a day earlier that Kon Knueppel, a sophomore point guard, will be sidelined due to a hamstring injury. Thus, the 21-year-old may find an opportunity to increase his role compared to the brief stint he had in Chicago.
The operation also has a direct economic consequence for the Hornets. With the trade, Charlotte creates a trade exception valued at 9.6 million dollars.
| Player | New team | Contract situation |
|---|---|---|
| Rob Dillingham | Charlotte Hornets | One more year of rookie contract, subject to team option |
| Buddy Hield | Chicago Bulls | Player option of about 10 million dollars for 2027-28 |
Buddy Hield spent only a few days in Charlotte
The move also ends a particularly brief stint for Buddy Hield with the Hornets. The veteran shooter had arrived in Charlotte from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith and remained in the franchise for less than a week before being traded again.
Hield is known for his outside shooting ability and for bringing a positive attitude and a lot of energy. Moreover, he has a prior relationship with Bryson Graham, executive vice president of the Bulls, due to the time they both spent in New Orleans.
His arrival in Chicago thus means the addition of a veteran player in exchange for a Dillingham who is still in the early stages of his professional career. The Bulls are betting on Hield while the point guard continues his development away from Chicago.
The contractual situations of Dillingham and Hield
The move also presents significant differences regarding the contractual future of both players. Dillingham has one more year of rookie contract, subject to a team option, before becoming a restricted free agent in the summer of 2028.
Hield, on the other hand, has a player option of approximately 10 million dollars for the 2027-28 season. His arrival in Chicago comes after a stay of only a few days in Charlotte, while Dillingham now begins a new chapter with the Hornets, who have experienced several changes in their perimeter during this offseason.
For Charlotte, the trade means acquiring a young player selected in the top ten of the 2024 Draft while simultaneously generating a 9.6 million dollar trade exception. For Chicago, the operation swaps a 21-year-old point guard for a veteran specialist in outside shooting.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Traspaso en la NBA: Rob Dillingham se marcha a Charlotte y Buddy Hield llega a Chicago
