Bulls Land Buddy Hield From Hornets, Move On From Rob Dillingham
Chicago swaps a 21-year-old lead guard it barely got to know for a proven volume shooter already in his 30s. Charlotte, meanwhile, is betting on upside over floor spacing.
The Bulls and Hornets swung a straightforward, effect-immediately trade this week: Chicago sends Rob Dillingham and cash to Charlotte, and gets Buddy Hield in return. It's a swap of styles as much as anything — a 21-year-old lead guard the Bulls barely had time to develop for a 33-year-old who does one thing as well as almost anyone in the league, which is make threes in bulk.
Hield joins Chicago as the Bulls' new floor-spacing option off the bench or in the starting lineup.
Dillingham, the No. 8 pick in the 2024 draft, only landed in Chicago at last season's trade deadline and played just 30 games there, averaging 9.6 points and 2.8 assists. He's out the door less than a year after arriving. Hield, for his part, is on his second trade in five days — Atlanta shipped him to Charlotte earlier in the week before the Hornets flipped him to the Bulls.
What Chicago Is Getting
Hield's game isn't complicated, and that's the point. He's a career 39.5% three-point shooter who takes north of seven attempts a game from deep, the kind of gravity that opens things up for everyone else on the floor. The Bulls clearly decided they needed that more than they needed to keep developing a rookie point guard who hadn't had time to show what he could be in Chicago. There's also a money angle: Hield's salary runs about $3 million higher than Dillingham's this season, which is why cash is going back to Charlotte as part of the deal.
Why Charlotte Said Yes
For the Hornets, this is a bet on time. Dillingham is a 21-year-old with lottery pedigree who never really got a runway in Chicago, and Charlotte — already stocked with young talent — is betting it can be the franchise that figures out what he actually is. The Hornets also picked up a $9.6 million trade exception in the deal, which gives them a tool to use later in the season if another opportunity comes up.
Immediate Impact on Both Rosters
Both teams are circling the same target this season — a play-in spot, at minimum — and this trade nudges each roster in a different direction to get there. Chicago adds shooting and a bit more experience to a rotation that needed both. Charlotte trades a proven floor-spacer for a project, which is a harder sell in the short term but the kind of move rebuilding teams make when they're planning past this season rather than for it.
Track how Hield's shooting affects Chicago's offense and follow both teams all season in our NBA Games hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Bulls give up for Buddy Hield?
Chicago sent guard Rob Dillingham and cash to Charlotte in exchange for Buddy Hield.
Why did the Hornets trade Rob Dillingham so soon after acquiring him?
Dillingham, the No. 8 pick in 2024, only arrived in Chicago at last season's trade deadline and appeared in 30 games. The Bulls moved on quickly, and Charlotte is betting on his long-term upside as a lead guard.
Is this Buddy Hield's only trade this offseason?
No. Hield was traded from Atlanta to Charlotte earlier in the week before being flipped to Chicago days later, making him a two-time trade piece in the same span.
