Bulls Acquire Buddy Hield from Hornets for Rob Dillingham
The Chicago Bulls traded for veteran shooter Buddy Hield from the Charlotte Hornets, sending out guard Rob Dillingham and receiving cash in return to
The Charlotte Hornets traded Buddy Hield and cash to the Chicago Bulls for Rob Dillingham. The deal sends the veteran shooter to Chicago in exchange for the young guard and financial considerations.
Hornets' roster and cap strategy
Charlotte is clearing cap space and preparing for roster cuts. The Hornets currently hold 18 standard contracts and must reduce that number to the NBA maximum of 15. Veteran Dennis Schröder and rookie Christian Anderson are already behind Coby White at point guard, leaving no obvious roster spot for Dillingham.
The Hornets plan to absorb Dillingham’s contract into their Tyus Jones trade exception and create a new $9.7 million trade exception for Hield. The trade saved the Hornets $3 million in cap space, as they took in $3 million less in salary than they sent out. If Dillingham is waived, he would result in a smaller dead cap figure than keeping Hield. Ryan Nembhard and Pat Connaughton are expected to be waived as part of the roster reduction.
Rob Dillingham was the 8th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft out of Kentucky. Despite an underwhelming start to his career, he is expected to receive an opportunity this season. If he makes the Hornets' roster, Charlotte offers a good environment for a young guard. The team is one of the most shooting-heavy in the NBA, and its system provides optimal conditions for a ball-handler to create his own shots.
Bulls' fit and roster context
Chicago adds Hield as a veteran shooter to complement its young forwards. The Bulls' young building blocks are athletic forwards Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis, who are taking on ball-handling responsibilities. With Tre Jones and Josh Giddey at point guard, the Bulls did not need to develop Dillingham as an on-ball player.
Buddy Hield's elite shooting is expected to help create lanes for Wilson and Buzelis. The 33-year-old shooting guard shot 34.9% from three-point range in 51 combined games with Golden State and Atlanta last season. He averaged 7.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. Dillingham averaged 9.6 points per game in 21.5 minutes over 30 games after being traded from Minnesota to Chicago in February. The Bulls’ new front office did not project Dillingham to have a future with the team.
Financial and contractual implications
The trade includes specific salary offsets and contract details. Hield makes approximately $3 million more this season than Dillingham, with the included cash helping to cover that difference.
| Player | 2026-27 Salary | 2027-28 Option |
|---|---|---|
| Buddy Hield | $9.7 million | $10.1 million player option (partially guaranteed) |
| Rob Dillingham | $6.9 million | $8.8 million team option (must be exercised by Nov. 2) |
The trade pushes the Bulls temporarily over the salary cap but leaves them $34.6 million below the luxury tax threshold. The Hornets fall to $25.6 million below the tax line. Hield is eligible to be moved again immediately because his salary is not being aggregated with another player.
Broader context and player history
This marks the seventh time Buddy Hield has been traded in his 10-year NBA career. It is his second trade this week, having been sent from Atlanta to Charlotte just days earlier. Over 765 regular season games, Hield has averaged 14.5 points, four rebounds, and 2.4 assists. Dillingham could benefit from reuniting with Naz Reid in Charlotte, who supported him during their time as Timberwolves teammates.
The Hornets plan to absorb Dillingham’s contract into their Tyus Jones trade exception and create a new $9.7 million trade exception for Hield.
