Dylan Cardwell Sidelined with Calf Strain
The Sacramento Kings center will undergo medical reevaluation in two weeks for a left calf injury.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Basketball
Live Poll
Do you feel confident in your local team's chances when multiple core players are injured?
The Sacramento Kings announced that center Dylan Cardwell sustained a left calf strain following an October 8 game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Cardwell is expected to be reevaluated in two weeks alongside teammate Maxime Raynaud.
Why it matters
The injury creates an immediate void in the frontcourt for the Kings as they prepare for the upcoming regular season. With Raynaud also sidelined, the team is adjusting its rotation to compensate for the loss of key defensive and rebounding support.
In the 2025-26 season, Cardwell averaged 5.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks over 44 games. He recorded a 58.7% field goal percentage during that campaign.
The players
Dylan Cardwell
He is a center for the Sacramento Kings who provided significant interior defense and rebounding during the 2025-26 season.
Maxime Raynaud
He is a Kings player currently sidelined alongside Cardwell due to a right patellar subluxation.
Precious Achiuwa
He is a player for the Sacramento Kings currently being utilized at the center position during team injury rotations.
Domantas Sabonis
He is a Sacramento Kings player who missed the team's two most recent preseason games.
Los Angeles Lakers
They are a professional basketball team that competed against the Kings on October 8.
The details
Imaging confirmed the calf strain in Cardwell's left calf after the player reported soreness following the Lakers game. The team is currently experimenting with Precious Achiuwa at the center position to maintain interior stability while Cardwell and Raynaud recover.
Timeline
October 8, 2026: Cardwell played against the Los Angeles Lakers.
October 13, 2026: The Kings announced Cardwell's injury.
Late October 2026: The reevaluation period for Cardwell and Raynaud concludes.
Season Trajectory
The injury forces the Kings to adjust their frontcourt depth chart during the final stretch of the preseason. This shift impacts the team's rotational stability and defensive rotations heading into the start of the regular season schedule.
The absence of Cardwell and Raynaud leaves the team without its primary center depth for the final preseason games. Expect to see increased minutes for Precious Achiuwa as the coaching staff evaluates new lineup combinations during the start of the regular season.
The takeaway
Frontcourt depth remains a critical factor for the Kings during this transition period in the preseason. Fans should monitor roster rotations as the coaching staff tests new personnel to cover the temporary loss of two core players.
Further reading
For more on the team's current status, visit Sacramento Basketball.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sports Illustrated.
Live Poll
Do you feel confident in your local team's chances when multiple core players are injured?
