Just when you think things can't get worse, the Sacramento Kings find a way. Dylan Cardwell's injury looks like it will keep him out for at least a few weeks alongside Maxime Raynaud. This drastically changes the Kings depth at center, and any double-big rotations they had planned for now.
Fans are already well aware that Raynaud is out. He suffered some rather graphic knee-to-knee contact with Stephen Curry that damaged his right patella. No return date has been provided, but he will miss time in the regular season. That being said, the injury could have been so much worse.
Now, the Kings have to add Cardwell to that list. During the Kings' second preseason matchup with the Lakers, he experienced soreness in his left calf. It turned out to be a strain that has kept him on the shelf since then, but the Kings didn't make this injury absence official until recently.
Like Raynaud, Cardwell is likely to miss the first couple of games of the regular season, but will hopefully be back sooner than his sophomore running buddy. For the time being, the Kings will have to wrap up the preseason without two key players, and plan for an early season without them.
What do the Kings look like without Mad Max and the Card?
Fortunately for the Kings, they have options. Their projected starter at the five was All-Star, All-NBA player Domantas Sabonis. Precious Achiuwa will fill in as the secondary with Jonathan Mogbo acting as their backup. That's not a bad scenario as both Achiuwa and Mogbo have been playing well.
Losing Raynaud and Cardwell at the same time does create issues. A big problem for the Kings will be on defense, where both players are major contributors. Sacramento lacks any kind of coherent defensive identity. What little they have is largely based on Cardwell's rim protection.
The other issue would be the double-big lines the Kings were experimenting with earlier in the preseason. When they were operating with all five bigs, there was a real opportunity to put their size to work for them. Those plans are out the window until the boys get back from the IR list.
Both players will be re-evaluated after the regular season starts, meaning returns for Raynaud and Cardwell could potentially be weeks away. In the meantime, the Kings will have to work with small ball lines, and figure out a defensive strategy that works without these two players.
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