There's no question that Dylan Cardwell caught the attention of the Sacramento Kings, their fans, and the entire league last season. Now that everyone is paying attention, Cardwell needs to take the initiative in his sophomore season and get his game to the next level without losing his energy.
Cardwell declared for the 2025 NBA Draft, but it didn't go exactly how he hoped. Even he knew he was a long shot. That being said, Cardwell also didn't expect to go undrafted. Fortunately for him, the Kings were paying attention and offered him a two-way contract for the 2025-2026 season.
Like Maxime Raynaud, Nique Clifford, and Daeqwon Plowden, the endless flow of injuries to starters last season opened the door for Cardwell to get real time on an NBA court. And wow did he step through with authority. He became a legit lob threat not to mention an elite rim defender.
More than that, Cardwell offers a unique presence. He brings positive energy to the court, celebrating with fans after big plays. He's also known for the gratitude he plays with. All of that led to the Kings signing him to a full NBA contract just after the 2026 Trade Deadline.
Cardwell needs to find his next gear in Sacramento
Now that Cardwell is on the court, he needs to up his game. A huge problem for him is foul discipline, an issue that a lot of rookie big men run into. Cleaning up his play so that he's committing fewer fouls has to be job number one. It's hard to get court time if you're fouling out too often.
The next step has to be free-throw shooting, yet another classic big man problem. As Cardwell gets more minutes, opponents are going to realize that putting him on the line is the best way to slow him down. Cardwell does not want to end up in a "hack-a-Shaq" situation this early in his career.
Beyond that, Cardwell will need to learn to work outside the paint more. That includes both offense and defense. He's a great lob threat, but his bag doesn't run much deeper. The same is true for defense, as he's incredible at the rim. Drawing him out to the perimeter exposes the cracks, though
These are just areas for improvement, and how he can develop his game to be a more effective member of the team. What's great about Cardwell is that he has a positive attitude and is immensely coachable. If anyone can attack these issues and grow rapidly, it's him.
