Dylan Cardwell’s Rise from Two-Way to Full-Time: Kings Reward Rookie Big Man’s Impact
Dylan Cardwell didn’t come into the NBA with much fanfare. No draft night spotlight.
No instant comparisons to past greats. But what he has brought to Sacramento is something every team covets: relentless energy, rim protection, and a motor that just doesn’t stop.
Now, the Kings are making sure he sticks around.
On Thursday, Sacramento converted Cardwell’s two-way contract into a multiyear NBA deal - a well-earned nod to the undrafted rookie’s growing role and impact. While the team hasn’t disclosed the full terms, league sources report that Cardwell will earn $871,000 for the rest of this season and $2.15 million next year, with two additional non-guaranteed seasons worth $2.53 million and $2.74 million respectively.
It’s a significant step for a player who, not long ago, was just fighting to get minutes.
“He’s earned every bit of this,” head coach Doug Christie said. “I talked to him today, and I won’t say what he said to me, but that’s what coaching is all about. That’s what makes this job worth it.”
Cardwell’s path hasn’t been traditional, but it’s been undeniably effective. Listed at 6-foot-10 and 255 pounds, the Auburn alum has brought a physical presence to Sacramento’s frontcourt.
He’s appeared in 25 games this season, averaging 4.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in 20 minutes per game. Those numbers don’t just pop on the stat sheet - they’ve made a real difference on the floor, especially on the defensive end.
He’s switchable, he protects the rim, and he rebounds like his job depends on it - because for a while, it did.
Two-way players are capped at 50 active games per season and earn half the rookie minimum. Cardwell had already been active for 31 games, with 30 left on the Kings’ schedule. Sacramento knew they had to act - and they did.
The move was made possible after the Kings cleared a roster spot in a three-team deal that sent Dennis Schroder, Keon Ellis, and Dario Saric out and brought De’Andre Hunter in. That opened the door for Cardwell to move up to a standard NBA contract.
“One of the other byproducts of the deal that was important for us was, in sending out three players, it opened up a roster spot to elevate and sign a guy like Dylan Cardwell,” said Kings GM Scott Perry. “He’s more than earned it. He’s become a fan favorite here.”
Perry didn’t hold back on what Cardwell brings to the table: “He does things that are very important for any successful basketball team. He’s an energetic defender, able to protect the rim, and a switchable big who can guard away from the basket. He’s already one of the top rebounders per minute among rookies.”
That blend of effort and versatility has made Cardwell a key piece of the Kings’ rotation - and a player the coaching staff clearly trusts.
But if you ask Cardwell about it, he’s not taking a victory lap. After Wednesday’s loss to the Grizzlies - before the contract became official - he was asked about the possibility of signing a full-time deal.
His response? Humble as ever.
“I’ve been working hard for this opportunity, but at the same time I can’t take any credit,” Cardwell said. “Coming in as a two-way, I wasn’t promised anything.
Some two-way guys play a lot, some never touch the floor. I just tried to be persistent.
They didn’t have to play me. They didn’t have to put me in there.
So none of that is to my credit at all.”
That mindset - grounded, grateful, and focused - has resonated with fans and teammates alike. Cardwell’s celebrations, his energy, and his clear love for the game have made him a sparkplug in Sacramento, both on and off the court.
“All glory to God,” Cardwell added. “Outside of the will of God, I wouldn’t be here in the NBA.
No one thought I was an NBA player, and I’m not supposed to be here. Every time I get on the court is an opportunity to showcase my God-given abilities.”
From undrafted to indispensable, Dylan Cardwell’s story is still being written. But one thing’s clear: the Kings believe in him - and now, he’s got a full-time seat at the table to prove them right.