More often than not, the guy who gets taken with the final pick in the NBA Draft doesn’t last too long in the league. With the exception of Isaiah Thomas, no other final picks in recent memory have been able to make much of themselves in the association. Enter Sam Merrill, selected by the Bucks with the last pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
He was part of the team’s championship, earning garbage time minutes throughout the team’s playoff run. Merrill bounced around after that season, spending a lot of time in the G-League.
He eventually landed with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the spring of 2023. And now, the Utah State product has become one of the league’s best shooters. So good in fact, that he actually leads the league in true shooting percentage.
Sam Merrill’s Journey to the Cleveland Cavaliers
When Sam Merrill first arrived in Cleveland, he wasn’t getting too much playing time. He was the last player cut by the Sacramento Kings before the start of the 2022-23 season. A former champion in The Land, Matthew Dellavedova got the spot over him.
Merrill would spent most of the season in the G-League with the Cleveland Charge after that, eventually signing a 10-day contract with the Cavs in March of 2023. He took that (and one single appearance), and turned it into a multi-year contract.
Had he made the Kings roster, this opportunity would not have come up. Perhaps, they have their former unsung hero to thank for this situation.
During his first full year with the Wine & Gold, Merrill shot the ball well enough to earn a spot in the Three-Point Shootout. There was a full-length feature article about his development written by Danny Chau of The Ringer. If that topic was broached to Cleveland fans, or anybody around the league even three months prior, it might come off as crazy.
While he could not compete in the event, a special version of his jersey was still worn by teammate Donovan Mitchell. He didn’t win, but Mitchell had an admirable performance in his stead.
Merrill had some opportunities there, and completely seized them. And as time went by, his playing time grew. His value went way up. And he became known not only as a knockdown shooter, but as a very effective perimeter defender.
In the offseason, Merrill inked a 4-year, $38 million contract to remain with the Cavs. The team decided to pay him instead of Ty Jerome, which surprised many folks. The deal actually made him the highest paid 60th pick of all-time.
Keep reading to learn more about his incredible start to the season.
Sam Merrill Has Been Torching Everybody
Fast forward to the 2025-26 campaign now, and the Cavs have dealt with serious injuries. It’s opened the door for Sam to not only get more looks, but to start some games.
Not only is Merrill leading the league in true shooting percentage, he is top-20 in made threes. This in spite of the fact that he has missed three of his team’s eight games.
Merrill has made 22 of his 41 triple attempts in his five appearances, with at least three makes in every game. There has not been a showing yet in which his shot hasn’t fallen. This is happening after he got paid, which is the most telling stat of all. Head Coach Kenny Atkinson even said that the Utah State product was probably their best player.
He’s been invaluable to them. When the team eventually gets to full strength, they’ll have a very reliable, efficient scorer coming off their bench.
Not too shabby for a guy who was the final pick in his draft, huh? Merrill mania continues.
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