Sam Merrill's sizzling shooting and defensive impact are proving that the Cleveland Cavaliers made the right call in giving him a contract extension last summer
Some considered it controversial when the Cleveland Cavaliers opted for paying sharpshooter Sam Merrill over electrifying sixth-man Ty Jerome last offseason.
Merrill was rewarded with a four-year, $38 million extension in early July. And while injuries have been an unfortunate deterrent at times this season, when he's been on the floor, he's been worth every penny to the wine and gold.
The last four games in particular have highlighted just how valuable Merrill has been to the Cavs this season. Over that stretch, the 29-year-old is shooting 51% from the floor and an even more impressive 54% from three, while averaging 18 points per game. He's also been a helpful on the defensive end, where the Cavs have largely struggled this season, posting a +6.3 when he's on the floor.
Merrill has been just about the only consistent bright spot for Cleveland this season, particularly his ability to knock down shots when the Cavs need it most. That was on full display during Thursday's 131-122 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he almost single-handedly fueled a fourth-quarter comeback.
On a night where the former G leaguer short 5-of-11 from deep, three of those three point shots came in the fourth, where he also scored 11 of his 22 points. It was the latest display of just how valuable he's been to the Cavs this season.
That value has been underscored further when considering just how bad the rest of the team has been at the thing he does best: shoot threes.
Over the last 10 games, the Cavs are 38th in three-pointers made. And an even more depressing 30th in three-point percentage. Those numbers speak to what's been an undoubtedly disappointing 2025-26 campaign for Cleveland. That's especially true when it comes to knocking down threes, where Cleveland is shooting just 35% for the entire season.
If there's any hope for the Cavs to turn their season around, they're going to need Merrill to continue being a spark. He can't do it all alone, though. Others will have to pick up some slack from beyond the ark.
At the very least, while he does his part in keeping them afloat, Merrill is proving Cleveland right for paying him last summer, and frankly, he's one of the organization's best examples of how they develop players over time.