The Charlotte Hornets have made a decision on Rob Dillingham.
Just days after trading for guard Rob Dillingham, the Charlotte Hornets have decided to move on from him.
ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania has reported that Charlotte will be waiving the former No. 8 overall draft pick from the 2024 NBA Draft.
The Hornets just traded for Dillingham from the Chicago Bulls, sending guard Buddy Heild out in the process. The trade created a $9.6 million trade exception for the Hornets.
Dillingham wasn't available to speak at Media Day for the Hornets, signalling that a move could be coming down the line. The former first-round pick was scheduled to make $6.9 million this year on his rookie-scale contract.
The guard had an $8.8 million team option for the 2027-28 NBA season. But it seems that the Hornets had no interest in waiting to make a decision on Dillingham
However, for Charlotte to move on from him so quickly is very interesting. Dillingham is only 21 years old still, and he could have been a nice depth piece for this Hornets team this season.
Dillingham was selected by the San Antonio Spurs, but then sent to the Minnesota Timberwolves on draft night in exchange for a 2030 protected first-round pick swap and an unprotected first-round pick in 2031.
The former Kentucky product hasn't lived up to the hype that he entered into the NBA with, and it's hurt his value around the league. Minnesota believed that he could be a star with their roster, but he never panned out.
The Timberwolves traded Dillingham to the Bulls last year, giving him a chance to turn everything around. Dillingham played in 30 games for the Bulls last season after being traded at the deadline from the Timberwolves.
In that time, he averaged 9.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists over 21.5 minutes. Chicago decided that it didn't have a need for his services this year, sending him to Charlotte recently.
Over his career, which has spanned 114 games, Dillingham has averaged 5.5 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. Dillingham will now be looking for his new team, and there is likely to be someone willing to take a chance on him.
Before being traded to the Bulls last year, Dillingham started to shoot the ball much better from beyond the three-point line. The guard hit 36.4 percent of his threes with Minnesota, but the numbers dropped once he got to Chicago.
His career has seen many ups-and-downs so far, but there is still time for him to change the narratives about him around the league.
