Table of Contents
June 28 EST: The ink isn’t dry yet, but the signal’s clear: Sam Merrill isn’t just hanging around anymore — he’s staying. The Cleveland Cavaliers are locking in one of the NBA’s most quietly deadly shooters on a four-year, $38 million deal that says, flat-out: this guy matters.
Sam Merrill Earned Every Dollar of It
Go ahead, look past the headlines. You won’t find Merrill’s name in any All-Star chatter or viral highlight reels. But flip on a Cavs game, and there he is — sprinting baseline, curling off screens, hands always ready, eyes locked on the rim. The shot goes up quick. Most times, it stays up there. Pure.
Last season? 37.2% from deep, 5.2 bombs a night, and not a single ounce of hesitation. Merrill played in 71 games, more than he ever had. He stayed healthy, stayed sharp, and stayed ready — and in a league obsessed with flash, that kind of blue-collar sniping doesn’t always get its due. Until now.
From Waiver Wire to Weapon
Let’s not rewrite history: Merrill was nearly out of the league a couple years back. Cut. Stashed. Forgotten. But Cleveland gave him a shot — and he turned it into a roster spot, then a rotation role, and now, a real-deal contract. That’s the kind of trajectory you don’t see unless there’s work behind it. Late nights. Film sessions. Reps in silence.
What’s wild is how good of a fit he is now. Darius Garland runs the show, Lonzo Ball is back to keep the ball hopping, and Merrill just lets it fly. Doesn’t over-dribble. Doesn’t try to do too much. He knows what he’s there to do — and he does it.
And if Ty Jerome heads elsewhere in free agency? Merrill’s usage could shoot up. This wasn’t a vanity deal. It was protection, projection, and a reward.
It’s Not Flashy. It’s Just Smart.
Let’s talk numbers — yeah, the math matters too. Merrill’s deal averages out at $9.5 million a year, a totally fair price for what he brings: spacing, stability, and trust. Cleveland’s cap isn’t busted, and they didn’t have to dig into some gimmicky contract language to keep him.
Compare that to the overpays flying around for erratic shooters or unproven wings. The Cavs didn’t chase fireworks. They paid their guy. That counts.
Cleveland Is Building, Not Bluffing
This isn’t a one-man story. It’s part of a bigger arc. Donovan Mitchell is the superstar. Evan Mobley is the future. Garland’s the engine. And now Ball’s the defensive glue. But a team’s only as tough as its second unit — and Merrill gives them backbone.
This roster’s rounding into something real. No big declarations yet. But with moves like this — quiet wins that scream “we know what we’re doing” — Cleveland’s starting to look like a problem for the East again.
For the Love of the Game
Look, Merrill’s never going to blow past a defender or put someone on a poster. But he plays like a guy who remembers what it’s like to be overlooked. Every corner three he hits is a message: You forgot about me. Big mistake.
And that, more than anything, is what makes this deal sing. The Cavs didn’t just re-sign a shooter. They kept a worker. A gamer. A guy who knows what it means to fight for a locker.
Let’s call it what it is — not a splash, but a damn good basketball decision.
New Jersey Times Is Your Source: The Latest In Politics, Entertainment, Business, Breaking News, And Other News. Please Follow Us On Facebook, Instagram, And Twitter To Receive Instantaneous Updates. Also Do Checkout Our Telegram Channel @Njtdotcom For Latest Updates.
