Who will be Sacramento’s backup center: Raynaud or Cardwell?

The Sacramento Kings enter the 2026-27 season with an interesting decision to make behind starting center Domantas Sabonis.

Both Dylan Cardwell and Maxime Raynaud proved capable of contributing during their rookie campaigns after Sabonis missed the majority of last season with a meniscus injury that ultimately required season-ending surgery.

With Sabonis healthy and expected to reclaim the starting role after offseason trade speculation, minutes at backup center will become much harder to find.

Sactown Sports’ Matt George believes Cardwell should have the edge.

On the latest episode of The Matt George Podcast, George explained why Sacramento’s defensive identity should make the former Auburn standout the first big man off the bench.

Cardwell, who went undrafted in 2025 out of Auburn before eventually earning a standard NBA contract, averaged 5.4 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 44 games while shooting 58 percent from the field. He led all rookies in rebounds per game and finished third in total blocks while becoming a fan favorite.

Dylan Cardwell #32 of the Sacramento Kings reacts during their game against the Toronto Raptors at Golden 1 Center on January 21, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Raynaud, meanwhile, enjoyed one of the league’s most productive rookie seasons. The 42nd overall pick averaged 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds while shooting 57.1 percent across 74 games, including 56 starts, earning NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors.

While George praised Raynaud’s offensive skill set, he believes Sacramento’s greatest need is interior defense.

“I believe Dylan Cardwell is going to need to play more,” George said.

George pointed to Cardwell’s rim protection as the deciding factor. Sabonis remains one of the NBA’s best offensive centers, but shot blocking has never been a strength of his game. George argued Raynaud offers many of the same offensive traits as Sabonis, making Cardwell’s defensive presence a more complementary fit.

“If you were to do just a two-center rotation–Sabonis and Maxime Raynaud–the Kings are going to be soft as butter with their interior defense,” George said. “There’s going to be a lot of scoring in the paint because those two guys just aren’t paint protectors.”

Maxime Raynaud #42 of the Sacramento Kings yells after making a basket while being fouled against the Washington Wizards in the third quarter of a 2026 NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 12, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)

George added that he expects head coach Doug Christie to experiment with two-center lineups throughout the season, but even in those combinations he believes Cardwell’s defensive versatility will be necessary.

“If you were to tell me right now to build the Sacramento Kings rotation,” George said, “Sabonis is getting the most minutes. I think Dylan Cardwell is getting the second most, and Maxime Raynaud is getting the third most.”

George emphasized his comments were purely his own projection rather than sourced information, but believes Sacramento’s commitment to establishing a defensive identity makes Cardwell the better fit to back up Sabonis entering the season.

Listen to all episodes of The Matt George Podcast wherever you get your podcasts, and watch each episode on SactownSports.com, the Sactown Sports app, or the Sactown Sports YouTube page.

More Sacramento Kings content from Sactown Sports

What is the next Sacramento Kings Offseason Event?

The start of the 2026-27 season is quickly approaching for Darius Acuff Jr. and the Sacramento Kings.

Sacramento will begin training camp in late September as they prepare to begin preseason play on Monday, October 5th when they face Luka Doncic and the new-look Los Angeles Lakers at Golden 1 Center.

Be sure to stay tuned into Sactown Sports all offseason for roster updates, schedule announcements, analysis, and much more.

Upcoming Sacramento Kings Offseason Schedule

• August TBD – 2026-27 NBA Schedule release
• Late September – NBA training camps begin

Sacramento Kings 2026-27 Preseason Schedule

• Monday, October 5th vs. Los Angeles Lakers (7 P.M. PST)
• Thursday, October 8th @ Los Angeles Lakers (7:30 P.M. PST)
• Saturday, October 10th @ Golden State Warriors (5:30 P.M. PST)
• Tuesday, October 13th vs. Portland Trail Blazers (7:00 P.M. PST)
• Friday, October 16th @ San Antonio Spurs (7:00 P.M. PST)

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