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Sam Merrill Rumors
Sam Merrill becomes highest-paid 60th pick in NBA history
Jorge Sierra: With his new contract, Sam Merrill will become the highest paid 60th pick in NBA history. Has really beaten the odds. pic.x.com/muSBAT8kG7
With his new contract, Sam Merrill will become the highest paid 60th pick in NBA history.
— HoopsHype (@hoopshype) June 28, 2025
Has really beaten the odds. pic.twitter.com/muSBAT8kG7
Sam Merrill to sign four-year, $38 million deal to stay in Cleveland
Shams Charania: Free agent guard Sam Merrill intends to sign a four-year, $38 million contract to stay with the Cleveland Cavaliers, sources tell ESPN. The Cavs negotiated the new deal with Kieran Piller and Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports, a success story for the 60th pick in 2020 draft.
From everything that I've heard the Cavs have had discussions about Dean Wade and do they want to see if they they can use him and something else to see if they can get assets back, different kinds of assets back, or different kinds of players back in return? So I think they're trying to figure out what is possible for us. And if we move off of Isaac Okoro’s money if we move off Dean Wade's money, does that make it easier to justify a Ty Jerome contract? Does that make it easier to justify a Sam Merrill contract?
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Cavs hoping to get Ty Jerome to return for less than full midlevel exception
The Cavs are wary of losing him and fellow key reserve free agent Sam Merrill, a shooting specialist who could have suitors as a fellow unrestricted free agent. Ty Jerome, who was on a $2.5 million deal this past season with the Cavaliers, is in line for a very hefty raise from that number, sources said. The expectation around the league is that it will take the full midlevel exception -- roughly $14.1 million -- to get Jerome signed. Cleveland, however, is hoping to get him to return for a bit less, sources said, as it attempts to navigate the second luxury tax apron and the team-building challenges that go along with it.
Same goes with Sam Merrill, who one source said could be looking at a multi-year free agency deal around $6-8 million annually because of his prolific shooting reputation, improved defense and the leaguewide demand for players with his skillset.
Koby Altman: We'd love to keep Ty Jerome
Michael Scotto: Cleveland Cavaliers President Koby Altman on free agent guard Ty Jerome: “Love to keep him. We’re hopeful.” “When guys find that confidence in (Kenny Atkinson’s) system, their value gets driven up. Same thing with Sam Merrill. You want to call these guys end of bench players before that became real rotational players and valuable within the ecosystem, not just us. The good news is those guys are going to do really well for themselves.”
With Darius Garland injured, Jerome scored 21 points on 20 shots in Game 1, then went 1-for-14 in Game 2 and was the defender who lost track of Tyrese Haliburton on the Pacers' game winner. Jerome got off to another slow start in Game 3, shooting 1-for-8, and at that point coach Kenny Atkinson had seen enough. Jerome played just 13 minutes, by far his lowest total of the postseason, as Sam Merrill passed him on the depth chart. By Game 5, Jerome couldn't get off the bench until the second half. Already facing financial pressures as a projected second apron team next season, the Cavaliers might now conclude that Jerome isn't worth retaining if he can't even stay on the floor in their most important games. And Jerome's struggles in the playoff pressure cooker might also scare off potential suitors who would otherwise be interested in seeing what he could do with more touches.
Danny Cunningham: #Cavs list Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Dean Wade, De'Andre Hunter, Sam Merrill, Ty Jerome, Isaac Okoro and Max Strus all as out tomorrow in the season finale against Indiana.
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Danny Cunningham: #Cavs list Donovan Mitchell (left ankle sprain), De'Andre Hunter (rest), Sam Merrill (rest) and Ty Jerome (left knee injury management) all as OUT tonight against the Knicks. Darius Garland (left great toe sprain) is probable.
"They’re not getting Ty Jerome for $2.5 million, and they’re probably not getting Sam Merrill for $2 million. Ty is more in the range of the non-taxpayer midlevel exception, maybe the full midlevel exception. I think the Cavs would be comfortable between $12 to $14 million annually, maybe $10 to $13 million. Something like that. It’s got to be a competitive offer. Some of this is going to be dictated by the market, but I think right around the midlevel exception is his right valuation."
Danny Cunningham: #Cavs list Donovan Mitchell (shoulder) as probable for tomorrow against Washington. Sam Merrill (personal) is out.
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