By Reporter Du Yijun / Comprehensive Report

　　Another bombshell has dropped in the NBA offseason trade market. According to a report from ESPN's权威 insider Shams Charania on the 15th, the Charlotte Hornets have officially announced the release of 21-year-old former No. 8 overall pick guard Rob Dillingham. What makes the situation particularly striking is that the Hornets had acquired Dillingham less than 24 hours earlier in a trade with the Chicago Bulls, only to waive him in what can only be described as a "lightning-fast dismissal."

　　The Hornets had reached an agreement with the Bulls on the previous day, sending star shooter Buddy Hield and some cash to Chicago in exchange for the young guard with high potential. However, the Hornets' decision clearly prioritized financial flexibility: the move not only cleared Hield's remaining multi-year contract but also created a trade exception worth approximately $9.6 million.

　　For the 21-year-old Dillingham, his professional career has been nothing short of turbulent. When the Minnesota Timberwolves traded up to select the Kentucky product in the 2024 draft, they gave up two future first-round picks to secure his scoring ability, highlighting the high expectations surrounding his talent.

　　However, the 6'2" guard failed to earn consistent playing time under Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch and never broke into a stable rotation role. During his two-plus seasons with Minnesota, he averaged fewer than 15 minutes per game. After being traded to the Bulls midseason last year, he appeared in 30 games with Chicago, posting averages of 9.6 points and 2.8 assists on 42.8% shooting. Yet even that was not enough to prevent him from being traded again.

　　With the Hornets' announcement of his release, Dillingham has now been with three different teams in just over two years and faces the prospect of being without a team. The once-promising No. 8 pick will now enter the waiver wire, seeking an opportunity to join a fourth NBA team and prove his worth all over again.