Rob Dillingham is headed to Chicago. I can confirm the Bulls are acquiring the dynamic rookie guard from the Timberwolves in a multi-player deal. Chicago is sending Ayo Dosunmu and Julian Phillips to Minnesota. The Bulls will receive Dillingham, another player, and multiple second round picks as part of a broader roster reset. Terms are being finalized and are pending league approval.
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Inside Chicago’s swing for upside
This is a bold play by the Bulls. It fits the front office plan this summer. Chicago has leaned hard into youth, skill, and future assets. They moved veterans for Josh Giddey earlier, then added more length and shooting in the draft. Now they add Dillingham, a fearless scorer with burst and deep range.
Dillingham comes with real juice. He was the eighth pick in the 2024 draft after a sparkplug year at Kentucky. He attacks in space, changes speeds, and creates his own shot. He can score off the dribble and off the catch. He competes, and he does not fear the moment.
The fit is clear. Chicago can toggle ballhandling between Coby White, Giddey, and Dillingham. White has grown as a lead guard. Giddey sets the table and pushes pace. Dillingham brings instant offense, the kind that flips a quarter in two minutes. Billy Donovan values multiple playmakers, simple actions, and spacing. Dillingham will get touches and room to work.
Defense will be a focus. Dillingham is smaller, so the Bulls must protect him with length and scheme. Patrick Williams, Matas Buzelis, and Giddey give Chicago size at the wing. That group can absorb tough matchups. Dillingham only needs to be solid, then his scoring can carry bench units.
Early plan, Dillingham opens as a spark scorer, plays next to a big guard, and closes if he is rolling.
Why Minnesota pivoted now
Minnesota just made a win now move. The Timberwolves are built to compete at the top of the West today. Mike Conley sets the tone. Anthony Edwards is a star who needs two-way support. That is what Ayo Dosunmu brings right away.
Dosunmu defends at the point of attack. He cuts and runs with pace. He makes open threes and finishes through contact. He fits a playoff rotation next to Edwards and Jaden McDaniels. Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns benefit from a guard who contains the ball and keeps the offense organized.
Julian Phillips is a young wing with tools. Minnesota has a strong development program. He can grow behind veterans, learn the system, and earn minutes as a defender.
- Chicago receives, Rob Dillingham, another player, and multiple second round picks
- Minnesota receives, Ayo Dosunmu and Julian Phillips
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Scouting Dillingham, what the Bulls are buying
Dillingham’s handle is elite for a teenager. His first step is sharp. He can pull up from deep, hit floaters, and hit the pocket pass when help comes. He plays with flair, but there is purpose in his reads. He was drafted by San Antonio at eight, then moved to Minnesota on draft night. Now he lands in Chicago, where the ball will be in his hands from day one.
Size and strength are the questions. He will need to add muscle. Teams will test him in pick and roll and in switches. The Bulls can scheme around that with drop coverage and longer wings on the floor. The scoring talent is rare, and Chicago is betting on that.
Expect him to run second units with shooters around him. Spot minutes with White as a two guard can work. Off ball, he can sprint into handoffs and punish lazy closeouts. He is the kind of player who can light up a Monday in January and a Game 4 in May. That is why you take this swing.
Trade terms are pending league approval. Final pick years and the second player headed to Chicago may shift before completion.
What it means next
For Chicago, this is a reset with a purpose. White, Giddey, Williams, Buzelis, and now Dillingham create a young, skilled core. The Bulls add upside and more draft capital, which gives them options. They can develop, or they can package picks later. The style should change too. More pace. More spacing. More shot creation, especially late in games.
For Minnesota, the message is simple. Win now. Dosunmu slots in to help Edwards on both ends. He guards top guards in the West and keeps the offense steady when Conley sits. Phillips is a long view flier for a team with a strong structure.
This trade matches each team’s timeline. The Bulls chase upside and assets. The Wolves lock in players ready for playoff minutes. Chicago gets a fearless bucket getter. Minnesota gets a proven two-way guard. Both sides stayed true to who they are, and both got better for it. The clock starts now. 🏀
