The Chicago Bulls are trading former first-round pick Rob Dillingham to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for veteran guard Buddy Hield and cash considerations, according to an ESPN report published Saturday.
The deal sends Dillingham, 21, to his third NBA franchise, while Hield, 33, lands with his eighth team after a whirlwind week that already saw him moved once.
A Rapidly Shifting Backcourt Landscape
Hield was dealt earlier in the week from the Atlanta Hawks to the Hornets, along with guard Ryan Nembhard and cash, in a package for forward Dorian Finney-Smith. Now he heads to Chicago in a separate transaction.
The Spurs originally selected Dillingham with the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft out of Kentucky and traded him the same day to Minnesota. The Timberwolves then dealt him to the Bulls on Feb. 5, 2026.
Dillingham’s Production in Chicago
As a reserve for the Bulls last season, the point guard averaged 9.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 21.5 minutes across 30 games. For his career, Dillingham has posted averages of 5.5 points, 1.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 13.0 minutes in 114 games, including one start, split between the Timberwolves (2024-26) and Bulls.
Hield Brings Elite Long-Range Resume
Hield carries career averages of 14.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists. He split last season between the Golden State Warriors (44 games) and Hawks (seven), averaging a career-low 7.6 points per game.
His highest scoring average came in 2018-19, when he poured in 20.7 points per game for the Sacramento Kings. The New Orleans Pelicans selected him sixth overall in the 2016 draft out of Oklahoma.
Hield has connected on 2,201 3-pointers, the 15th-most in NBA history, while shooting 39.5% from beyond the arc.
Charlotte’s Injury Concerns
The Hornets announced Friday that second-year sharpshooter Kon Knueppel suffered a left hamstring injury during an offseason on-court activity and could miss the start of the regular season, adding urgency to Charlotte’s backcourt reshuffling.
