Cavs To Bring Back Sam Merrill On Four-Year Contract

While the Cleveland Cavaliers are losing Isaac Okoro in the trade with the Chicago Bulls for Lonzo Ball, and could lose Ty Jerome as a free agent, they are keeping Sam Merrill.

Like Jerome, Merrill is an unrestricted free agent, able to sign with any team and not allowing the Cavs an opportunity to match.

But according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Cavs are re-signing Merrill, who played an underrated role in their 64-18 finish. The deal is for a reported four years and $38 million.

The NBA free agency period begins Sunday night, when teams can begin negotiations.

Merrill, 29, just completed his third year in Cleveland, averaging 7.1 points and 40.6 percent shooting on 3-pointers. While his perimeter shooting wasn’t as reliable as hoped, Merrill became a strong defender and overall utility man under first-year coach Kenny Atkinson.

Given that Ball generally plays point guard, Merrill’s spot in the rotation likely won’t be impacted, given that he’s a shooting guard and at times even a small forward.

Along with that, the Cavs freed up some money with the Ball trade, giving them a chance to be more active when free agency begins.

“As the Cavaliers enter the 2025-26 season approximately $12 million over the salary cap’s second apron — and with All-Star and Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley receiving a $45 million bonus on his rookie maximum contract — it makes Ball’s contract at two years and $20 million, with a team option on 2026-27, more palatable,” Charania wrote.

Ball, 27, averaged 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists this season.

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