After trade for him on Sunday Hornets gave up their previous choice in the lottery Rob Dillinghamthe team announced on Monday (Link to Twitter).
The eighth overall pick in the 2024 draft, Dillingham began his NBA career with the Timberwolves, who hoped he would emerge as a regular rotation player on a team-friendly rookie contract. However, the former Kentucky standout played a limited role as a rookie, averaging 4.5 points and 2.0 assists in 10.5 minutes per game while shooting .441/.338/.533 in 49 games.
Dillingham was traded from Minnesota to Chicago midway through his second season in a deal that sent Ayo Dosunmu to the Timberwolves. In a total of 65 games for the two teams in 2025/26, he registered 6.3 ppg and 2.2 ppg at 14.9 mpg, while his shooting percentage from the floor dropped to 39.6% and 31.6% on three-pointers.
The following weekend, the Bulls flipped Dillingham to Charlotte in exchange for Buddy Hield and cash, but it appears the move was just about saving money for the Hornets, who carried 17 players on standard contracts even after recently cut another young guard Ryan Nembhardas well as
After waiving Dillingham, Charlotte is now down to 16 players on standard contracts, including 15 with guaranteed salaries – Pat Connaughton has a non-guaranteed deal.
As for Dillingham, he will become an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday, provided he remains unclaimed. That would leave the Hornets on the hook for the 21-year-old’s $6.89 million salary for 2026/27, although his $8.76 million team option for 27/28 will be officially waived once he accepts waivers.
Dillingham will be eligible to sign with any team other than the Bulls as a free agent. Because he has accumulated just two years of NBA service, he is still eligible for a two-way contract.
