Hornets swing two trades to acquire former UNC Tar Heels standout from Bulls
Coby White is headed back his native state while Collin Sexton’s time and Mason Plumlee’s second stint with the Charlotte Hornets is over.
After trading Plumlee to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Ousmane Dieng, the Hornets sent Sexton, Dieng and three second-round picks to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for White and Mike Conley Jr., league sources confirmed to The Charlotte Observer.
Sexton was on an expiring contract and the Hornets felt it was prudent to move him for other assets, particularly White. Sexton, 27, is in the final year of a four-year, $72 million contract inked in a sign-and-trade between Cleveland and Utah in 2022 and is earning $18.9 million this season.
The news comes less than 24 hours after Sexton told The Charlotte Observer he hoped to stay in Charlotte and continue providing a veteran presence. In fact, Sexton flew with the team Wednesday in advance of Thursday’s game against Houston at Toyota Center, league sources told The Observer.
As for White, it’s a homecoming, and he’s always fared well in Charlotte against the Hornets.
Born in Goldsboro, White starred at Greenfield School in Wilson before going on to play for North Carolina. The 6-foot-4, 195-pounder is his seventh season and has averaged 16 points, 4.7 assists, and 3.7 rebounds while shooting 43.8% from field overall and 34.6% beyond the 3-point arc.
Conley is an 19-year veteran who was just traded from Minnesota to Chicago on Tuesday as part of a three-team deal involving the Timberwolves and Detroit Pistons. It’s likely Charlotte will buy out Conley, allowing him to become a free agent. He’s earning $10.7 million in the final season of his two-year deal.
Dieng is a 6-foot-9 forward in his third season, known for his length and versatility. He’s averaged 4.2 points, 2.1 rebounds, and an assist in 12 minutes in 136 games with Oklahoma City.
Plumlee has played sparingly for the Hornets this season since signing on as a free agent in the summer for the veteran’s minimum, and has been sidelined with a groin injury that required surgery. He posted 1.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 14 games with the Hornets in 2025-26.
Later Wednesday, the Hornets struck again, acquiring Tyus Jones and two second-round picks from Orlando for cash considerations, league sources confirmed. The Hornets now have 11 first-round picks and 14 second-rounders over the next seven years.
This story was originally published February 4, 2026 at 4:27 PM with the headline "Hornets swing two trades to acquire former UNC Tar Heels standout from Bulls."
