
Sam Merrill agrees to four-year, $38 million contract to stick with Cavaliers
The Cavaliers have locked in one of their backcourt depth pieces for the future.
Sam Merrill has agreed to a four-year, $38 million contract to stay in Cleveland, ESPN reported Saturday afternoon.
The 60th overall pick of the 2020 draft averaged 7.2 points across 19.7 minutes across a career-high 71 games last season.
Advertisement
In the Cavaliers' run to the Eastern Conference semifinals, he averaged 5.8 points across 19.9 minutes.
Sam Merrill of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles the ball during the game against the Indiana Pacers during Round 2 Game 3 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on May 11, 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.
NBAE via Getty Images
Merrill has served as a depth piece for the Cavaliers, as he also did during stints with Memphis and Milwaukee, where he was a rookie on the NBA champion Bucks in 2021.
Advertisement
Going into his fourth year in Cleveland, the 29-year-old solidified a point guard depth chart that also includes Darius Garland and Lonzo Ball, who was traded by the Bulls to the Cavs in exchange for Isaac Okoro on Saturday.
Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) shoots the ball against the
Pacers in Game 3 of their playoff series.
Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Fellow Cleveland guard Ty Jerome, however, is expected to leave in free agency.
Last season, the Cavaliers were one of the top 3-point shooting teams in the NBA.
Advertisement
Merrill shot 37.2 percent from deep on an average of 5.2 attempts per game.
He shot 40.4 percent from beyond the arc in 2023-24.
In 2023, Merrill joined the Cavaliers on a 10-day contract, which was converted to a guaranteed, multi-year deal that came to an end this summer.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Cardinals rally from 5-run deficit to defeat Guardians 9-6
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Miles Mikolas reacts after giving up a two-run home run to Cleveland Guardians' Gabriel Arias during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long) St. Louis Cardinals' St. Louis Cardinals' Yohel Pozo catches a pop foul by Cleveland Guardians' Austin Hedges during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long) St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Miles Mikolas steps off the mound after giving up a solo home run to Cleveland Guardians' Kyle Manzardo, rear, during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long) St. Louis Cardinals' Willson Contreras is congratulated by his teammates after hitting a solo home run off Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Kolby Allard during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long) St. Louis Cardinals' St. Louis Cardinals' Yohel Pozo, left, scores on a sacrifice fly by Brendan Donovan as Cleveland Guardians' Austin Hedges stands by during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long) St. Louis Cardinals' St. Louis Cardinals' Yohel Pozo, left, scores on a sacrifice fly by Brendan Donovan as Cleveland Guardians' Austin Hedges stands by during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long) St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Miles Mikolas reacts after giving up a two-run home run to Cleveland Guardians' Gabriel Arias during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long) St. Louis Cardinals' St. Louis Cardinals' Yohel Pozo catches a pop foul by Cleveland Guardians' Austin Hedges during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long) St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Miles Mikolas steps off the mound after giving up a solo home run to Cleveland Guardians' Kyle Manzardo, rear, during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long) St. Louis Cardinals' Willson Contreras is congratulated by his teammates after hitting a solo home run off Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Kolby Allard during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long) St. Louis Cardinals' St. Louis Cardinals' Yohel Pozo, left, scores on a sacrifice fly by Brendan Donovan as Cleveland Guardians' Austin Hedges stands by during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long) CLEVELAND (AP) — Victor Scott II had two hits and two RBIs as the St. Louis Cardinals rallied for a 9-6 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday. Masyn Winn added three hits for St. Louis, and Brendan Donovan and Willson Contreras both homered. Donovan and Alec Burleson each drove in two runs. Advertisement Kyle Manzardo and Gabriel Arias went deep for the Guardians (40-41), who have lost three straight and dropped under .500 for the first time since April 9. Cleveland snapped a 21-inning scoreless drought with six runs in the third to take a 6-1 lead before St. Louis came back. Burleson had a two-run single in the fifth, and Scott tied it with a two-run double during a five-run sixth. Yohel Pozo scored the go-ahead run on Donovan's sacrifice fly, and Scott came home on an RBI groundout by Winn. Contreras added a solo homer in the ninth. Matt Svanson (1-0) got the win and Ryan Helsley earned his 16th save. Advertisement Matt Festa (1-2) took the loss. In the third, the Guardians got a solo shot from Manzardo and a two-run drive by Arias off starter Miles Mikolas. Their other runs came on an RBI double by Lane Thomas, an RBI triple by Steven Kwan and a run-scoring grounder by Daniel Schneeman. Key moment Donovan lined a fastball over the wall in right-center on Slade Cecconi's first pitch. It was the sixth time this season a Guardians starter allowed a home run on the opening pitch of the game — most in the majors. Cleveland gave up six such homers from 2017-24. Key stat It was the first time since July 5 last year against Washington that the Cardinals trailed by five and rallied to win. The last time Cleveland led by at least five and lost was on May 19, 2023, against the New York Mets. Advertisement Up next The series finale is a matchup of left-handers. Matthew Liberatore (5-6, 3.96 ERA) pitches for St. Louis, and Logan Allen (5-5, 4.25) takes the mound for Cleveland. ___ AP MLB:


Washington Post
an hour ago
- Washington Post
The Wizards' draft picks aren't afraid of a little hard work
A recurring theme emerged as the Washington Wizards introduced their three draft picks Saturday morning: General Manager Will Dawkins and the players themselves emphasized the trio's exemplary work ethic. Dawkins said Texas guard Tre Johnson (sixth overall), Illinois forward Will Riley (21st) and Florida State guard Jamir Watkins (43rd) bring 'serious competitiveness' and 'workmanlike mentality.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Memphis Grizzlies got who? ESPN host trips, announces Colin Cowherd instead of Cedric Coward
When the Memphis Grizzlies received the rights to Washington State forward Cedric Coward in a trade June 25 with the Portland Trail Blazers, many people heard something quite different when his name was called out. ESPN's Malika Andrews, when she announced the selection live on the 2025 NBA draft broadcast, called him Colin Cowherd, host of FS1's show "The Herd." Advertisement People immediately went to social media, and Colin Cowherd is currently trending on X. The FS1 personality took to X to make light out of the situation in two posts. Cowherd also shared a photo of himself in a Trail Blazers jersey, posting "Nothing against Memphis but this would have been epic." The Grizzlies sent their No. 16 overall pick, a 2028 first-round pick from the Orlando Magic, and two second-round picks to the Trail Blazers to get Coward. More: Memphis Grizzlies 2025 NBA Draft live updates: First-round picks, trade rumors This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: ESPN says Memphis Grizzlies No. 11 pick Cedric Coward is Colin Cowherd