NBA Trade Analysis
Chicago Bulls Acquire Veteran Shooter Buddy Hield From Charlotte For Rob Dillingham
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The Charlotte Hornets traded Buddy Hield and cash to the Chicago Bulls for 21-year-old Rob Dillingham, days after acquiring Hield from Atlanta. Chicago adds an experienced three-point shooter; Hield averaged 7.6 points last season. Dillingham, the eighth pick in the 2024 draft, averaged 9.6 points and 2.8 assists in 30 games with Chicago, but Charlotte’s roster crunch leaves his role uncertain. The deal gives Charlotte about $3 million in salary savings and a $9.4 million trade exception. The Hornets will also start the season without Kon Knueppel, who is expected to miss at least four weeks with a hamstring injury.
Key Points
1
Hield’s previous move to Charlotte came in a Tuesday trade in which the Hornets sent Dorian Finney-Smith to Atlanta and received Hield and Ryan Nembhard.
2
Chicago’s backcourt already includes Tre Jones and Josh Giddey, and the Bulls reportedly see Hield’s shooting as a way to open driving lanes for young forwards Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis.
3
Charlotte has standard contracts for 18 players despite a 15-player roster limit; Ryan Nembhard and Pat Connaughton were considered possible cuts, and Dillingham’s place on the roster was uncertain.
4
Before joining Chicago, Dillingham played 49 games for Minnesota as a rookie, averaging 4.5 points per game; he averaged 3.5 points in 35 Timberwolves games the following season before being traded to the Bulls.
5
Knueppel sustained his left hamstring injury during offseason on-court activity and is to be re-evaluated after at least four weeks; his absence could increase early-season opportunities for Brandon Miller and Coby White.
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