Sam Merrill ☆ Follow

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Starts 0 of 2 games · 6th on CLE in minutes · Rotation role

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Every situation, with four seasons of history →

• Podcast Danny Cunningham, Locked On Cavs · Analysis · 9 h ago

  Mario Hezonja has done good things near the basket. Sam Merrill and Jaylon Tyson have been willing to do dirty work.

  “Three Things That Have Stood Out In the First Week for the Cleveland Cavaliers” at 21:42 · listen ↗

• Podcast Danny Cunningham, Locked On Cavs · Report · 35 h ago

  Tyrese Proctor played well, especially in his first stint, and played more minutes than Craig Porter Jr. Part of the reason was Sam Merrill's foul trouble.

  “Cleveland Cavaliers Earn First Win While Surviving Scare Against Brooklyn Nets” at 21:26 · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Report · 38 h ago

  Harden and Merrill made the late free throws to close out the win.

  “CAVS POSTCAST: Cleveland Cavaliers Blow Lead but SURVIVE as Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen Deliver” at 6:50 · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Report · Oct 23

  Defensive counting stats: two steals each for Watson, Mitchell and Mario Hezonja. One steal each for Merrill, Jaylon Tyson, Porter and Harden. Seven team blocks, two of them by Tyson. The Sixers had nine offensive rebounds.

  “Cleveland Cavaliers Collapse On Opening Night in Philadelphia Against LeBron James and the Sixers” at 28:28 · listen ↗

  also reported by Danny Cunningham, Locked On Cavs

• Podcast Locked On Cavs · 2 points · Oct 22
  • During Philadelphia's first run, the hosts questioned why Atkinson had not called a timeout and why Sam Merrill was the lead ball handler. at 1:56
  • A host (inferred to be Chassie Melvin) says Sam Merrill was on Brown while Watson sat. Watson then had to come back and guard Brown once he was hot. at 15:37

  “CAVS POSTCAST: Kenny Atkinson BLAMED; Cleveland Cavaliers BLOW Massive Lead to LeBron James & 76ers” · listen ↗

• ESPN ESPN · Report · Oct 20

  Day-to-day, right elbow soreness, return est. Oct 22

  source ↗

• Podcast Locked On Cavs · 2 points · Oct 22
  • Kenny Atkinson (reported): Asked earlier in the week whether everybody practiced, Kenny Atkinson said Sam Merrill was limited. Per the host, Atkinson did not say that Allen missed practice. at 5:34
  • Danny Cunningham: Last season Jarrett Allen played 56 games at 27.1 minutes per game. That was slightly above Jaylon Tyson and Sam Merrill, and below Harden, Mitchell and Mobley. at 7:04

  “The Latest on the Injury to Jarrett Allen and Previewing the Cleveland Cavaliers Opener Against Philadelphia w” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Cavs · 11 points · Oct 21
  • Kenny Atkinson (reported): Kenny Atkinson said Sam Merrill went through practice on Tuesday, including a lot of scrimmaging, and was able to do everything. at 1:47
  • Danny Cunningham: After practice, the host saw Merrill getting shots up in what looked like his normal post-practice work. at 1:57
  • Danny Cunningham: The host did not believe Merrill did much on Monday. He says Merrill progressed to doing basically everything on Tuesday. at 2:12
  • Danny Cunningham: The host expects Merrill to be able to play in Thursday's season opener at Philadelphia, unless something happens before then. The official injury report was due Wednesday. at 2:34
  • Danny Cunningham: Last season the Cavs went 37-15 when Merrill played and 15-15 when he didn't. at 3:05
  • Synergy (reported): Synergy, as cited by the host: last season Merrill was in the 81st percentile in handoff volume and the 83rd percentile in points per possession on handoffs. at 5:08
  • Synergy (reported): Synergy, as cited by the host: coming off screens, Merrill was in the 87th percentile in points per possession and the 74th percentile in volume. at 5:32
  • Danny Cunningham: The host says Jaylon Tyson shot 44% from three, the team's best percentage, while Merrill shot 42% on what the host thinks were harder shots. He calls Merrill the better shooter. at 6:46
  • Danny Cunningham: The host says the Cavs now have only one movement shooter (Merrill), so they will miss Max if Merrill is out. Last season that player played only 12 games because of a foot injury. at 4:47
  • Danny Cunningham: The host believes that two seasons ago Merrill missed 11 games and the Cavs went 10-1 in them. at 10:18
  • Danny Cunningham: The host thinks Merrill, a shooting guard who has often played small forward, will play more at his natural position this year. He says this could be the best season of Merrill's career. at 11:11

  “Injury Updates on Sam Merrill and Nae'Qwan Tomlin, the Expected Opening Night Rotation and Tom Thibodeau's Vis” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Cavs · 4 points · Oct 20
  • Kenny Atkinson (reported): Sam Merrill was limited in practice on Monday with an elbow injury. The update came from Kenny Atkinson's post-practice availability. at 29:38
  • Merrill did not take part in Saturday's team scrimmage. He also did not play in the third and final preseason game, last Tuesday in Orlando. at 29:51
  • The host does not know how serious Merrill's injury is. He thinks it is fair to wonder whether Merrill will be ready for the regular-season opener, and has no good feel either way. The Cavs practice again Tuesday. at 30:13
  • The host's view: Merrill is the seventh man in the rotation, and his absence could open up a rotation spot. at 31:29

  “Breaking Down the Most Important Early Season Storylines for the Cleveland Cavaliers” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Report · Oct 19

  Sam Merrill is the next-highest-paid player after Allen, at $9 million this year.

  “Making Predictions for the 2026-27 Cleveland Cavaliers” at 28:46 · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Cavs · 3 points · Oct 15
  • Danny Cunningham: Sam Merrill did not play in Tuesday's final preseason game. No reason is given. at 19:36
  • Danny Cunningham: Against Orlando on Sunday, the trio of Hezonja, Jaylon Tyson and Sam Merrill played 13 minutes together and outscored Orlando 43-32. at 19:40
  • Danny Cunningham: Danny thinks Sam Merrill should play much more shooting guard than small forward this year. at 22:41

  “Evan Mobley's Pressure, Peyton Watson's Preseason and Mario Hezonja's fit with Mike Lucas” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Analysis · Oct 14

  The host believes, but isn't sure, that Merrill sat out because of right elbow soreness.

  “Cleveland Cavaliers Drop Preseason Finale; Any Cause for Concern?” at 26:39 · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Cavs · 2 points · Oct 13
  • The host says Sam Merrill has not stood out in the preseason, but the team knows what he brings. at 2:52
  • Harden did not play in the first preseason game. Jaylon Tyson started in his place, Mario Hezonja and Merrill were the first two off the bench, and Meleek Thomas was the eighth to check in. at 5:35

  “Why Meleek Thomas and Mario Hezonja Appear to Be Big Factors for the Cleveland Cavaliers” · listen ↗

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