Cavs' Kenny Atkinson Used Sam Merrill as His Example for Prospects in Istanbul

Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson named Sam Merrill as the model for young players at the first Men's Basketball Without Borders Next Up camp in Istanbul this week, Basketball Network reported Wednesday.

Atkinson said the players who make it are the connectors, on the court and off it, and that most of the campers in Istanbul are headed for supporting jobs.

"We have Sam Merrill, right? He's a shooter. Comes up, and then he defends, and that's his role," Atkinson told Basketball Network at the camp. "And he just doesn't get out of that role, and that wins. That wins in the NBA. And then the stars respect guys like that."

"That's something some young players don't understand," Atkinson continued. "I'll be sending that message to these guys: 'You're going to be a role player. You better defend, rebound, all the other stuff.'"

Merrill played 52 games last season and averaged 12.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. He shot 46.1% from the field, 42.1% from 3-point range, and 85.5% from the line.

The 3-point shot was his best since rookie year, on his heaviest volume. He played 71 games the previous season and shot 37.2% from 3 on 5.2 attempts per game.

Cleveland signed Merrill to a four-year, $38 million contract in July 2025. The Cavaliers let Ty Jerome leave in free agency the same summer.

New Orleans took Merrill out of Utah State with the 60th and final pick of the 2020 draft. He was Mountain West Player of the Year in 2019 and a two-time first-team all-conference pick. He won a championship as a rookie with Milwaukee in 2021. Cleveland signed him to a 10-day contract in March 2023 and converted it to a multiyear deal 11 days later. He had been averaging 16.4 points for the Cleveland Charge, and a month before the call-up he set a Charge franchise record by going 10-of-14 from 3-point range against the Greensboro Swarm.

Across 225 NBA games Merrill has averaged 8.0 points.

Strus is gone. Cleveland shipped him to the Los Angeles Clippers on Aug. 19 in the five-team deal that brought Peyton Watson in from Denver, and Cam Whitmore arrived from Washington in the same transaction.

James Harden and Donovan Mitchell handle most backcourt shots. Cleveland traded Darius Garland for Harden in February, with Harden averaging 20.5 points and 7.7 assists.

Merrill has now remained longer in the Cleveland rotation than Ty Jerome, Caris LeVert, and Strus. LeVert was traded to Atlanta in the De'Andre Hunter deal at the 2025 deadline.

Atkinson and Cavaliers center Thomas Bryant are both on the camp staff in Istanbul. The camp opened Wednesday at Basketbol Gelisim Merkezi and ends Saturday.