The Charlotte Hornets have waived former Kentucky Wildcats guard Rob Dillingham as they finalize their roster ahead of the new NBA season. The move ends Dillingham's brief tenure with the franchise after he was acquired via trade earlier this year. This roster adjustment follows a period of mixed results for the Hornets, who closed their previous campaign with a 110-96 win over the New York Knicks on April 12, 2026.
Rob Dillingham was a highly-touted four-star recruit from Hickory, North Carolina. He played his college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats, where he quickly became known as a pure scorer. In his single season at Kentucky, Dillingham averaged 15.2 points and 3.9 assists per game while shooting 47.5% from the field. He played in 32 games, starting just one, but his offensive spark made him a fan favorite and a lottery pick.
The San Antonio Spurs selected Dillingham with the eighth overall pick in the NBA Draft. His professional journey, however, has been marked by instability. He spent his rookie season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, appearing in 49 games and averaging 4.5 points per game. On draft night the following year, he was traded and then moved again to the Chicago Bulls on February 5, 2026. After failing to secure a consistent role in Chicago, he was traded to the Charlotte Hornets last September.
NBA teams are required to trim their rosters to the league-mandated limit before the season begins. Waiving Dillingham represents a strategic decision by the Hornets' front office to create flexibility. It allows them to explore other options for their final roster spots, whether through free agency, a different trade, or promoting a player from their development system. For a young team building around a core, every roster slot is important.
Dillingham's skill set, while potent in college, had not translated consistently at the NBA level. At 6-foot-2, he faced challenges defensively and struggled to find a steady offensive rhythm across multiple stops.
Assuming he clears waivers, Rob Dillingham will become an unrestricted free agent, free to sign with any team in the league. This presents an opportunity for another franchise to take a chance on his scoring pedigree and hope a new environment unlocks his potential. For the Hornets, the focus now shifts to the players who remain. The team will continue its preparations, likely looking to internal development and their existing roster to fill the guard rotation.
The Hornets' front office will be active in monitoring the waiver wire and free agent market. Their decision reflects a commitment to building a competitive roster. Fans can track the team's upcoming schedule and roster moves on the official schedule and stats pages. The end of the Dillingham chapter is a straightforward business move, but it opens the door for the next phase of the Hornets' offseason plan.
