Sam Merrill Nearing Return, But Cavaliers Still Waiting on Their Sharpshooter
The Cleveland Cavaliers won’t have Sam Merrill back just yet. The 29-year-old guard is set to miss his 13th straight game Wednesday night against the Chicago Bulls as he continues to recover from a hand injury.
He’s not alone on the injury list-Evan Mobley (calf), Max Strus (foot), and Larry Nance Jr. (calf) are all confirmed out as well. It’s been that kind of season for Cleveland: a revolving door of injuries that’s made it tough to find rhythm or consistency. But there’s at least a bit of optimism surrounding Merrill’s progress.
According to Kenny Atkinson, Merrill is moving along in his rehab. He’s back on the court in a limited capacity, getting up shots and going through non-contact drills.
That’s a good sign, but he’s not cleared for full participation yet. Until he is, the Cavaliers will have to keep navigating without one of their most reliable perimeter threats.
Why Merrill Matters
When Merrill is healthy, he brings something the Cavaliers have sorely lacked this season: efficient, high-volume three-point shooting. In a league where spacing and shooting are king, Merrill has quietly been one of the best in the business at doing both.
He’s hitting 44.4% from deep on 8.3 attempts per game. That’s not just good-it’s elite.
For context, Jaylon Tyson is technically shooting a better percentage (46.5%), but on far fewer attempts (4.5 per game). Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland’s offensive engine, is averaging 4.0 made threes per night, but he’s also firing up 10.6 attempts and connecting at a less efficient 38.1%.
Merrill’s value isn’t just in the numbers-it’s in how he gets them. He moves well off the ball, finds space within the flow of the offense, and doesn’t need the ball in his hands to make an impact. For a team that often leans heavily on Mitchell and Darius Garland to create offense, having a guy like Merrill who can stretch the floor and punish defenses for collapsing is a huge asset.
Defensive Impact Often Overlooked
While Merrill is known for his shooting, his defense has quietly been a strength, too. He’s a solid point-of-attack defender-smart, disciplined, and physical enough to hold his own. And the numbers back up his importance on that end of the floor.
The Cavaliers currently rank 9th in the NBA in defensive rating for the season at 113.2. But in the 12 games Merrill has missed, that number has slipped to 113.9, which would rank just 14th over that stretch. It’s a subtle drop, but in a league where margins are razor-thin, it matters.
Cleveland’s identity under Atkinson has been built on defense, and while the team still has plenty of capable defenders, losing a reliable rotation piece like Merrill has forced others to take on more than their share. His return won’t fix everything, but it will help restore some balance-especially against teams with strong guard play.
Looking Ahead
At 15-12, the Cavaliers are still very much in the mix in the East, but they haven’t quite found their stride. Injuries have been a major reason why. Merrill may not be the biggest name on the roster, but his absence has been felt on both ends of the floor.
When he’s finally cleared for contact and game action, Cleveland will be getting back a key two-way contributor-someone who can provide spacing, knock down shots at a high clip, and hold his own defensively. In a season where depth has been tested at every turn, Merrill’s return can’t come soon enough.