Buddy Hield is already on the move *again*! Just days after landing in Charlotte from Atlanta, the dude is headed to Chicago, creating some immediate cap headaches for the Bulls. ESPN’s Shams Charania dropped the bomb Saturday: Hield and cash are off to Chicago, and in return, the Hornets get Rob Dillingham. Can you believe this guy got traded twice in one week?
Hield’s Whirlwind Week and The Cap Crunch
This whole situation is wild, right? Charania reported Thursday that Hield, Ryan Nembhard, and cash first went from the Hawks to the Hornets in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith. Then, BAM! Hield’s on the move again days later. The craziest part? Bobby Marks from ESPN confirmed Hield could be moved twice so fast because his salary wasn’t aggregated with another player’s in that initial Hawks to Hornets deal. Hield, who split last season between the Golden State Warriors and the Hawks, is set to make $9.7 million next season with a $10 million player option for 2027-28, according to Spotrac.
Now, for the Bulls, this is a big financial swing. Spotrac’s Keith Smith projects they’re going over the salary cap with this trade. They’ll still be more than $34 million below the luxury tax, but going over the cap this early is a statement. Meanwhile, the Hornets are looking a bit better financially, dropping to $25.6 million beneath the luxury tax with Hield gone.
Dillingham: A Former Lottery Pick Looking for a Home
The Hornets are taking a chance on Rob Dillingham, and man, this kid has been on a journey. He was initially the No. 8 pick in the 2024 draft by the San Antonio Spurs, but the Minnesota Timberwolves made a costly move to acquire his rights ahead of the 2024-25 season, sending an unprotected 2031 first-rounder! After seeing limited playing time coming off the bench for a season-and-a-half with the Wolves, Dillingham was traded to the Bulls last February as part of a trade-deadline deal that sent Ayo Dosunmu to Minnesota. He struggled to produce in his brief tenure with Chicago, so Charlotte is banking on a change of scenery finally sparking something.
Dillingham’s contract carries a $6.9 million cap hit this season after the Bulls activated his team option, and the Hornets have an $8.8 million club option to decide on by October 31st. Bobby Marks laid out some options for the Hornets: they could create a $2.8 million trade exception or use the $8.2 million trade exception they gained from trading Collin Sexton to the Bulls in February to accommodate Dillingham’s contract. If they use that Sexton exception, Smith noted they could also create a $9.7 million trade exception for Hield. Talk about cap gymnastics!
So, what’s next? The Hornets still have to figure out their 15-man roster by October 19th; Marks said they need to move some players. For the Bulls, they’re bringing in Hield as a veteran presence who can add some much-needed shooting and experience to what could be one of the NBA’s youngest rosters next season. It’s a fresh start for both players in new jerseys, and we’ll see if Dillingham can finally click in Charlotte or if Hield provides that immediate boost Chicago is chasing. The season is right around the corner!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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