Sam Merrill Returns to Full Cavaliers Practice Before Season Opener

Sam Merrill went through all of the Cleveland Cavaliers' practice Tuesday, a day after right elbow soreness limited him to partial participation.

The team practiced at Cleveland Clinic Courts in Independence, Ohio, its home since 2007, which it will leave once a new downtown training center opens.

Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson called it really good news. Cleveland scrimmaged a fair amount during the session.

Merrill averaged 12.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 52 games last season, with 38 starts. He shot 42.1% from 3-point range, going 158-of-375. In 17 playoff games, he averaged 7.8 points.

New Orleans took Merrill with the 60th and final pick of the 2020 draft. He won a championship with the Milwaukee Bucks as a rookie in 2021. Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com reported Merrill's partial session Monday.

Cleveland last played Oct. 13, a 132-116 loss at Orlando that closed a 1-2 preseason. The Cavaliers lost 124-113 to the Boston Celtics on Oct. 8 and beat the Orlando Magic 119-105 on Oct. 11.

Thursday's opener in Philadelphia comes nine days after the preseason finale.

Monday's work included a full conditioning circuit.

"Not easy," Atkinson said. "It's good prep for the playoffs. Sometimes in the playoffs you have to wait that long, so we try to create a game — that intrasquad scrimmage, we try to create a game situation. We try to get our conditioning. We did a full circuit yesterday, like, tough. So we do the best we can. In an ideal world, you'd love to play another game, but we make the best out of it."

Execution and special situations have been the focus over the past week.

"I would say conditioning — how quickly do we get fatigued, how long can we sustain — that's a big part of it," Atkinson explained. "And then look at the, I would use that word, connection, how's the team connecting."

"And then, as it gets later, as it gets closer, we were really kind of tilted towards execution, special situations," Atkinson continued. "So just past week, we've been judging that, putting our guys in those situations, trying to get ready. So those are like the three."

"As far as, like, where are you — are you, like, a great team, a good team — it's really hard to [gauge]," Atkinson added. "I'm just going to hold off and just wait. I do notice these guys told me after practice, like, man, we can't wait to play someone else. They're in that mode right now. We've been beating each other up a little bit here."

Atkinson is entering his third season in Cleveland. The Cavaliers started 15-0 in his first year, finished 64-18, and earned the No. 1 seed in the East. He was named Coach of the Year, and Cleveland lost to the Indiana Pacers in the second round.

Before Cleveland, Atkinson coached the Brooklyn Nets from 2016 to 2020 and spent three seasons as a Golden State Warriors assistant.

Atkinson said this group is a little different because Cleveland added new players and has had others out.

"I tell [Koby] this all the time, everybody they bring into this program, it's like, are extremely coachable, high character, they fit in the locker room," Atkinson said. "So I really — as a coach, I've been blessed since I've been here to the type of people they bring [in]. I mean, the player, the system fit, that's great. But maybe more importantly, the characters they bring [in]."

"And that's [Exhibit 10s]. That's [two-ways]. These guys are a dream [to] coach," Atkinson detailed. "So, since I've been here, the chemistry's been great. This team's a little different because we've added new guys and some guys have been out, but it's kind of like we just keep it going. It's like the continuity, the type of player we bring in. It's just great for that connectivity."

Koby Altman is Cleveland's president of basketball operations. Before opening night, the Cavaliers waived four Exhibit 10 players: Tre'Von Spillers, Rashaun Agee, Zack Austin, and Noam Yaacov. Riley Minix, Ernest Udeh Jr., and Tristan Enaruna fill the three two-way spots.

Cleveland went 52-30 last season, finished fourth in the East, and won two playoff rounds. The New York Knicks swept the Cavaliers in the conference finals, finishing the series May 25, and went on to win the NBA championship.

Internally, the belief is that this group is good enough to take another step.

"That's, like, internally, that's the belief, right?" Atkinson said. "Like, the belief is we're good enough to take another step, right? Conference finals last year, and our job and our belief, our internal belief is like, that's not enough. We want more."

"We just have a belief about it, belief in this group," Atkinson noted. "We obviously have our great core guys, but we've added some exciting pieces too. So we're excited to take that next step."

James Harden re-signed in August on a three-year, $97 million deal. Cleveland also acquired Peyton Watson in a four-team trade and signed Mario Hezonja.

Dean Wade, who averaged 5.8 points and 4.2 rebounds for Cleveland last season, signed a four-year, $39 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. LeBron James also joined Philadelphia in free agency.

Tip-off Thursday in Philadelphia is set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.