Sam Merrill

Cleveland Cavaliers, Shooting Guard
Age: 29y-9m-21d (May 15, 1996)
Exp: 5 Years
Country: US
College: Utah State
Drafted: Round 2 (#60 overall), 2020
Agent(s): Kieran Piller, Mark Bartelstein (Priority Sports & Entertainment)
2025-26 Cap Hit

$8,482,144

2025-26 Cash

$8,482,144

Career Earnings

$16,166,188

2025-2028 Free Agent (CURRENT)

Sam Merrill signed a 4 year, $38,000,000 contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers, including $38,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $9,500,000. In 2025-26, Merrill will earn a base salary of $8,482,144, while carrying a cap hit of $8,482,144 and a dead cap value of $8,482,144.
Contract Terms:
4 yr(s) / $38,000,000
Average Salary:
$9,500,000
GTD at Sign:
$38,000,000
Total GTD:
$38,000,000
Signed Using:
Bird Rights
Free Agent:
2029 / UFA
Year Age Cap HitAnnual Cap % League Cap Apron Salary Luxury Tax Tax % League Tax Cash Annual Cash Guaranteed Cash Cumulative
2025-26 29 $8,482,144 5.48% $8,482,144 $8,482,144 4.51% $8,482,144 $8,482,144 $8,482,144
2026-27 30 $9,160,715 5.52% $9,160,715 $9,160,715 4.54% $9,160,715 $9,160,715 $17,642,859
2027-28 31 $9,839,285 5.65% $9,839,285 $9,839,285 4.65% $9,839,285 $9,839,285 $27,482,144
2028-29 32 $10,517,856 5.75% $10,517,856 $10,517,856 4.73% $10,517,856 $10,517,856 $38,000,000
2029-30 33
UFA
Year Age Base Salary Incentives Likely Incentives Unlikely Cap Hit Cap % League Luxury Tax
2025-26 29 $8,482,144 - - $8,482,144 5.48% $8,482,144
2026-27 30 $9,160,715 - - $9,160,715 5.52% $9,160,715
2027-28 31 $9,839,285 - - $9,839,285 5.65% $9,839,285
2028-29 32 $10,517,856 - - $10,517,856 5.75% $10,517,856
2029-30 33
UFA
Year Age Base Salary Cash Total Cash Cumulative Cash Remaining AYC Cumulative AYC Remaining
2025-26 29 $8,482,144 $8,482,144 $8,482,144 $38,000,000 $8,482,144 $9,500,000
2026-27 30 $9,160,715 $9,160,715 $17,642,859 $29,517,856 $8,821,430 $9,839,285
2027-28 31 $9,839,285 $9,839,285 $27,482,144 $20,357,141 $9,160,715 $10,178,571
2028-29 32 $10,517,856 $10,517,856 $38,000,000 $10,517,856 $9,500,000 $10,517,856
Source: Spotrac

2022-2024 rest-of-season

Contract Terms:
3 yr(s) / $5,012,231
Average Salary:
$1,670,744
GTD at Sign:
$850,000
Total GTD:
$5,012,231
Signed Using:
non-taxpayer-mid-level-exception
Free Agent:
2025 / UFA
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2022-2022 ten-day

Contract Terms:
10 yr(s) / $105,522
Average Salary:
$10,552
GTD at Sign:
$105,522
Total GTD:
$105,522
Signed Using:
Minimum
Spotrac Premium Tools
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2022-2023 exhibit-10

Contract Terms:
2 yr(s) / $3,833,328
Average Salary:
$1,916,664
GTD at Sign:
$150,000
Total GTD:
$150,000
Signed Using:
Minimum
Free Agent:
2024 / UFA
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2020-2021

Contract Terms:
2 yr(s) / $2,416,291
Average Salary:
$1,208,146
GTD at Sign:
$1,398,310
Total GTD:
$1,398,310
Signed Using:
Minimum
Free Agent:
2022 / RFA
Spotrac Premium Tools
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Seasons

5 Years

Career Earnings thru 2025

$19,849,162

Earnings w/ Different Teams

4 teams

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) Status Cash Total Cash Cumulative Awards
2020 24
Active
$898,310
$898,310
 Champion
2021 25
Retained
Retained
$1,517,981
$1,517,981
$2,416,291
$3,934,272
2022 26
Retained
Active
Retained
$150,000
$850,000
$105,522
$4,084,272
$4,934,272
$5,039,794
2023 27
Active
$1,997,238
$7,037,032
2024 28
Active
Active
$2,164,993
$2,164,993
$9,202,025
$11,367,018
2025 29
Active
$8,482,144
$19,849,162
Total      
$19,849,162
$19,849,162
2026 30
Active
$9,160,715
2027 31
Active
$9,839,285
2028 32
Active
$10,517,856
Total
$49,367,018
* denotes prorated cash total due to lockout season

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
1 $898,310 - - $898,310
1 $3,035,962 - - $3,035,962
1 $150,000 - - $150,000
4 $15,764,890 - - $15,764,890
Year Team(s) Age Base Signing Incentives Cash Total Cash Cumulative
2020
24
$898,310
$898,310
$898,310
2021
25
$1,517,981
$1,517,981
$1,517,981
$1,517,981
$2,416,291
$3,934,272
2022
26
$150,000
$850,000
$105,522
$150,000
$850,000
$105,522
$4,084,272
$4,934,272
$5,039,794
2023
27
$1,997,238
$1,997,238
$7,037,032
2024
28
$2,164,993
$2,164,993
$2,164,993
$2,164,993
$9,202,025
$11,367,018
2025
29
$8,482,144
$8,482,144
$19,849,162
Total
$19,849,162
$19,849,162
$19,849,162
2026
30
$9,160,715
$9,160,715
2027
31
$9,839,285
$9,839,285
2028
32
$10,517,856
$10,517,856
Total
$49,367,018
$49,367,018

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
1 $898,310 - - $898,310
1 $3,035,962 - - $3,035,962
1 $150,000 - - $150,000
4 $15,764,890 - - $15,764,890

Injuries

Year Dates Games Missed Reason
2025-26 CLE Jan 14, 2026 - Jan 26, 2026 7 Hand
2025-26 CLE Jan 02, 2026 - Jan 02, 2026 1 Ankle
2025-26 CLE Nov 19, 2025 - Dec 19, 2025 14 Hand
2025-26 CLE Oct 27, 2025 - Nov 02, 2025 4 Hip
2024-25 CLE Apr 13, 2025 - Apr 13, 2025 1 Rest
2024-25 CLE Apr 11, 2025 - Apr 11, 2025 1 Injury Management
2024-25 CLE Feb 07, 2025 - Feb 07, 2025 1 Personal
2024-25 CLE Jan 29, 2025 - Jan 29, 2025 1 Illness
2024-25 CLE Jan 03, 2025 - Jan 08, 2025 3 Ankle
2024-25 CLE Nov 20, 2024 - Nov 20, 2024 1 Injury Management
2024-25 CLE Nov 13, 2024 - Nov 19, 2024 3 Ankle
2023-24 CLE Apr 10, 2024 - Apr 14, 2024 3 Neck
2023-24 CLE Feb 14, 2024 - Feb 21, 2024 1 Illness
2023-24 CLE Dec 23, 2023 - Dec 28, 2023 2 Wrist
2023-24 CLE Nov 08, 2023 - Nov 12, 2023 2 Illness
2021-22 MEM Nov 20, 2021 - Jan 01, 2022 22 Ankle
2020-21 MIL Jan 04, 2021 - Jan 07, 2021 2 Ankle
  • Jul 06, 2025 Signed a 4 year $38 million contract with Cleveland (CLE)
  • Mar 14, 2023 Signed a 3 year $5.01 million Rest-of-Season contract with Cleveland (CLE) - includes 2023-24 and 2024-25 non-guaranteed
  • Mar 03, 2023 Signed a 10-day contract with Cleveland (CLE)
  • Oct 15, 2022 Waived by Sacramento (SAC); leaving behind $150,000 in dead cap
  • Aug 12, 2022 Signed a 2 year $3.83 million contract with Sacramento (SAC)
  • Jan 01, 2022 Waived by Memphis (MEM)
  • Aug 07, 2021 Traded to Memphis (MEM) from Milwaukee (MIL) with two future 2nd-round picks for Grayson Allen
  • Nov 30, 2020 Signed a 2 year $2.4 million contract with Milwaukee (MIL)
  • Nov 24, 2020 Traded to Milwaukee (MIL) from New Orleans (NOP) as part of a 4-team trade: Denver (DEN) traded 2023 1st round pick to Oklahoma City (OKC); Milwaukee (MIL) traded RJ Hampton to Denver (DEN); Milwaukee (MIL) traded George Hill to Oklahoma City (OKC); Milwaukee (MIL) traded 2027 1st round pick, 2026 right to swap via MIL, 2025 1st round pick, 2024 right to swap via MIL and Eric Bledsoe to New Orleans (NOP); Oklahoma City (OKC) traded Steven Adams to New Orleans (NOP); New Orleans (NOP) traded Jrue Holiday to Milwaukee (MIL); New Orleans (NOP) traded Zylan Cheatham, Kenrich Williams, Joshia Gray, 2024 2nd round pick, 2023 2nd round pick and Darius Miller to Oklahoma City (OKC)
  • Nov 18, 2020 Drafted by New Orleans (NOP): Round 2 (#60 overall)
Year Team GP GS Min/Gm Pt/Gm Reb/Gm Ast/Gm Stl/Gm Blk/Gm FG% 3PT% FT%
2025 CLE 39 27 25.8 13.1 2.2 2.2 0.6 0.1 .478 .461 .854
2024 CLE 71 4 19.7 7.2 2.2 1.5 0.7 0.2 .406 .372 .966
2023 CLE 61 1 17.5 8.0 2.0 1.8 0.3 0.1 .402 .404 .929
2022 CLE 5 11.6 5.0 1.8 1.0 0.8 .409 .278 1.000
2021 MEM 6 9.5 4.2 1.2 0.7 .333 .304 .500
2020 MIL 30 2 7.7 3.0 1.0 0.7 0.3 .444 .447 1.000
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