The Charlotte Hornets just pulled a move, sending Buddy Hield and some cash over to the Chicago Bulls for Rob Dillingham. Man, this one feels like a whirlwind for a couple of guys already bouncing around the league. Hield is getting traded for the second time just this offseason, after he was part of a deal for Dorian Finney-Smith when he was with the Atlanta Hawks. For a veteran shooter, that’s a lot of movement in a short amount of time.
Chicago’s Bet on Buddy’s Shot
For the Bulls, this deal makes a ton of sense, and it’s all about getting that bucket. Their young core, Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis, are both athletic forwards, and they need space to operate. Enter Buddy Hield. His shooting is straight-up elite, and that’s exactly what Chicago needs to open up the lanes to the basket for Wilson and Buzelis. Dillingham, the No. 8 pick back in 2024, was a trade-deadline flier by the previous Bulls regime, but honestly, he didn’t play all that well in his 30 games with the squad. With Tre Jones and Josh Giddey already at point guard, plus Wilson and Buzelis taking on some ball-handling duties, continuing to develop Dillingham as an on-ball player just didn’t track for the Bulls. Sometimes you gotta cut your losses to get what you really need, and Chicago clearly needed Hield’s shooting.
The Dillingham Dilemma in Charlotte
Now, for Charlotte, this is a much bigger gamble on a young player with an uncertain future. Dillingham’s career started off a bit underwhelming, but he was a top-10 pick just two years ago, which tells you the kind of talent is there somewhere. But here’s the kicker: it’s not even clear if Dillingham will make the Hornets’ roster. They’re already loaded with 18 players on standard contracts. Ryan Nembhard, who came over in that Atlanta trade, is expected to get waived, and Pat Connaughton is likely headed that way too, but teams can only carry 15 guys. There’s no other obvious player Dillingham can beat out for a spot right now. If the Hornets do waive him, at least they’ll have a smaller dead cap figure on their books than they would have with Hield, who makes about $3 million more this season.
If Dillingham *does* make the team, Charlotte could actually be a great spot for him. They’re one of the most shooting-heavy teams in the NBA, which provides optimal conditions for a ball-handler to create his own shots. With Coby White as the starter and veteran Dennis Schröder plus rookie Christian Anderson behind him at point guard, there’s a path for Dillingham to get some looks if he can prove himself. Whether it’s in Charlotte or somewhere else, you just know some team is going to give a No. 8 pick an opportunity this season, especially after he’s already on his third team. This is a crucial moment for him to show he belongs.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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