Dillingham Trade Goes Final, Four More Join Camp

By the Bulls Nightly Desk · Monday, September 28

The Bulls completed the trade sending Rob Dillingham to Charlotte for Buddy Hield on September 27, closing out a move that had only been reported the day before. Camp additions kept coming too, with four players joining the roster in the same 48-hour window.

Bulls Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Trade closes the loop. The Hield-for-Dillingham move went from report to signed transaction in a single day. Dillingham heads to Charlotte carrying a $6.9M salary; Hield arrives at $9.7M. Chicago's payroll now sits at $161.5M, still under the cap, with Josh Giddey's $25.0M the biggest number on the roster.

Four join in two days. Marquel Sutton, Orlando Robinson, Drew Peterson and Brandon Boston all signed on as camp filled out. Houston Mallette went the other way on September 25, just three days after he arrived, a reminder that camp spots are still shifting this close to preseason.

Three names to track. Dailyn Swain (wrist), Josh Giddey (ankle) and Zach Collins (toe) are all working toward an October 1 target, giving them a window to be ready before the preseason opener on October 7 against Phoenix.

Best five, last year. Chicago's top lineup by net rating last season paired Vucevic, Huerter, Okoro, Giddey and Buzelis for a plus-4.2 mark over 65 minutes across 13 games, the lone group among the club's most-used units that finished positive.

Jones' bench habit. Tre Jones scored 20 or more off the bench four times in his final five games of last season, turning a reserve role into steady offense. He closed the year averaging 14.1 points and 5.4 assists in 27.0 minutes.

Cap picture holds. The trade did not move Chicago's total: $161.5M against a $200.4M tax threshold. The Bulls still hold their own first-rounders through 2030, own the 2028 and 2030 second-round swaps, and owe Oklahoma City a 2027 second.

On deck Preseason opens October 7 at home against Phoenix, followed by Memphis on October 9, a trip to Denver on October 11 (ESPN), and Milwaukee on October 14. The regular season starts October 21 at Toronto.

Did the Bulls actually trade Rob Dillingham for Buddy Hield?

Yes. The move was reported September 26 and became an official transaction September 27, sending Dillingham to Charlotte and Hield to Chicago.

When do the Bulls play their first preseason game?

October 7 at home against Phoenix, the first of four preseason games before the regular-season opener October 21 at Toronto.