Charlotte Hornets waive Rob Dillingham to address oversized roster

The Short-Lived Charlotte Tenure

The swift transaction began earlier in the week when Charlotte received Rob Dillingham in a multi-player deal originating from Chicago that also brought Buddy Hield to the franchise. Hield had finished the previous season on the bench in Atlanta before moving to the Hornets. Dillingham arrived with an appealing contract structure featuring a team option for the 2027-28 season, alongside a natural connection to North Carolina as a native of the state. His addition initially aligned with the team’s backcourt reshuffling following the departure of LaMelo Ball.

Financial Realities Force Roster Cuts

Financial constraints quickly superseded on-court logic for the Charlotte front office. Similar to the swift departure of Ryan Nembhard, who was also waived almost immediately upon arrival, the Hornets needed to address an oversized roster. Even after cutting Rob Dillingham, Charlotte carried 16 players under guaranteed contracts against a regular-season limit of 15, not including Pat Connaughton’s non-guaranteed deal. Clearing these roster spots helps generate flexibility, including a $9.6 million trade exception secured through the recent transactions, but further moves remain necessary to comply with league roster rules.

Career Reset for the 2024 Draft Pick

The waiver marks a steep career slide for Rob Dillingham. Selected eighth overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, he spent his rookie campaign largely confined to a reserve role in Minnesota before logging extended minutes with the Chicago Bulls toward the end of the season. Averaging 9.6 points and 2.8 assists over 30 appearances with Chicago during the 2025-26 campaign, he showed flashes of scoring potential despite shooting 42.8 percent from the field.