Free agent guard Sam Merrill intends to sign a four-year, $38 million contract to stay with the Cleveland Cavaliers, sources tell ESPN.
The Cavaliers negotiated the new deal with Kieran Piller and Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports, a success story for the 60th pick in 2020 NBA draft.
The deal cements the Cavaliers’ point guard depth chart of Darius Garland, Lonzo Ball and Merrill — as the expectation is that the franchise will lose free agent Ty Jerome in free agency, sources said.
Merrill, 29, was one of several role players that helped make the Cavaliers one of the league’s top 3-point shooting team last season. He shot 37.2% from 3 on 5.2 attempts per game after shooting more than 40% from distance in 2023-24.
Merrill, who played a career high 71 games last season, joined the Cavaliers on a 10-day contract in 2023 and was quickly converted to a guaranteed, multiyear deal that expired this summer.
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