Bulls give up on former lottery pick in surprising Hornets deal

1 month ago 21

The Chicago Bulls are moving on from young guard Rob Dillingham, trading the former lottery pick to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for veteran sharpshooter Buddy Hield and cash, according to The Athletic. The deal has yet to be finalized.

The move gives Chicago another proven perimeter threat as the Bulls continue reshaping their roster. Hield, 33, has long been regarded as one of the NBA’s most dangerous volume 3-point shooters. He connected on 34.9 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc in 51 games last season.

Adding Hield could provide much-needed floor spacing for a young Bulls roster while taking some of the shooting burden off Norman Powell. His ability to stretch defenses without dominating the basketball should give Chicago another weapon offensively.

For Dillingham, the trade represents another fresh start early in his NBA career.

The 21-year-old was selected eighth overall in the 2024 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs before being dealt to the Minnesota Timberwolves on draft night. Dillingham entered the league as an explosive scorer and playmaker, but breaking into Minnesota’s rotation proved difficult for the 6-foot-2, 175-pound guard.

Bulls make stunning move

Chicago acquired Dillingham from Minnesota at the February trade deadline. He later acknowledged the pressure he experienced while trying to earn consistent minutes with the Timberwolves.

“When you do (play), you (have to) play perfect in your opportunity, or you won’t get more opportunities,” Dillingham told The Athletic in March.

Dillingham also explained that being an undersized guard left him feeling as though he had little margin for error.

“So, I feel like the pressure really comes from not knowing when you’re gonna get the opportunity,” he said.

Charlotte will now become Dillingham’s third NBA organization in only two seasons.

The Hornets are betting that the former Kentucky standout still has considerable developmental upside. At just 21, Dillingham has time to turn his scoring ability into a consistent NBA role if Charlotte can provide him with the minutes and patience he struggled to find earlier in his career.

For Chicago, the trade represents a different direction. Rather than continuing Dillingham’s development, the Bulls are adding an established shooter capable of immediately strengthening their perimeter attack.