The Sacramento Kings have signed rookie center Dylan Cardwell to a four-year contract.
The Sacramento Kings are signing rookie center Dylan Cardwell to a four-year deal, agent Corey Marcum tells ESPN. The deal includes two fully guaranteed years. Cardwell has averaged 4.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 20 minutes this season.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2026
The 24-year-old rookie went undrafted out of Auburn in the 2025 NBA Draft, and the Kings signed him to a two-way contract in June. He will likely never be a threat on offense, but his rebounding and defense are a joy to watch. His Per 36 stats are 8.5 points, 12.7 rebounds and 3 blocks.
It will be interesting to see how Doug Christie uses him down the stretch of the season as the tank goes on. We have seen him on the court with Domantas Sabonis multiple times now and that will probably continue. If Sabonis ends up sitting for the tank, a boatload of Cardwell and Maxime Raynaud front court minutes would be a fun watch.
Good on Cardwell for earning this. Standing 6’11’’ and 255 pounds, he is a fan favorite for his energy and charisma, and he is a bright spot in what is truly a dismal, putrid, horrific season.
But the season isn’t on Cardwell. Congrats Dylan, we are looking forward to seeing you on the court in Sacramento moving forward.
Congrats to Dylan! His hard work has paid off and I love his enthusiasm for the game. Keep bringing it!
That being said, fuck everything else.
^This^
Grats Dylan!
If he continues to play far above his pay grade, he can get packaged up with a few draft picks and traded for an overpriced aged vet and escape basketball hell! congrats Dylan!
Lmao I literally thought hey enjoy being the sweetener when we have to move Hunter in 3 years after they extend him.
OT: The Athletic has an article breaking down what each team’s deadline moves say about their future. Each section (Blown to Smithereens, Editing the Edges, Content Contenders ets) has multiple teams, except one.
“The Road to Nowhere” – Sacramento Kings.
“The Kings might be the first team in NBA history to add money in a salary dump. The club with the NBA’s worst record keeps covering up battle wounds with tiny Band-Aids. And now, it has even greater financial concerns.”
What a shitshow.
And some thought things couldn’t get worse in Basketball Hell. Alas, here we are.
But NOW they can’t get any worse, right?
Bueller?…
Bueller?…
You know what? You’re right. I’d rather see Cardwell and Raynaud at the guard spots than LaVine, Derozan and Westbrook.
Cardwell, Raynaud, and Precious sharing the guard minutes? I like it. (Good catch)
Darnit! I can’t find it now…
I saw a Sell the Team Walk Out planned for tonight’s game at 6:30 (Tip off at 7), on my X feed.
I don’t have tix for tonight, but it would be nice to see.
So people will buy tickets and then walk out? Doesn’t that sorta seems odd? Give them money and then just leave?
just curious – are there attendance or financial loss triggers that would enable Vivek to break the lease with G1 and move the team?
I’d imagine we would see a bunch of NBA fans in all these other cities taking to the streets, urging their city leaders to NOT ALLOW Vivek into their communities.
From the summer league on, it is clear this guy is a keeper. If he can just learn how to make a jump shot….
Richaun Holmes can tutor him on the Push shot, though learning the jump hook/half hook would be plenty good
Oh, and Free throws. Have to be able to make the free throw to stay in games late (some teams play all the way to the end of the game)
Vivek sucks. The most broke owner in the NBA.
I’m happy for Cardwell, a definite favorite.
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