Cavs Retain Sam Merrill; Rockets Pursue Injury Exception; Beal to Start for Clippers
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Cavaliers
Shooting guard Sam Merrill learned on a golf course that Cleveland had offered him a four-year, $38 million contract, ending weeks of uncertainty about his future. “It’s a big blessing,” the 28-year-old said, noting the deal provides long-term stability after an injury-plagued, three-team journey that began as the 60th pick in the 2020 draft.
Merrill reached the NBA through Milwaukee, was traded to Memphis, then bounced to Sacramento before the Cavaliers’ G League affiliate selected him No. 1 overall in 2022. A 10-day contract with the Cavs turned into a three-year deal last season; this summer the front office chose Merrill over free-agent guard Ty Jerome.
President of basketball operations Koby Altman called Merrill’s movement shooting “really, really hard to find” and cited his competitiveness as a cultural fit. Merrill spent the offseason adding floaters and mid-range shots to his arsenal and said the new contract only strengthens his resolve “to help this team get to the next level.”
Rockets
Houston is applying for a $14.1 million disabled player exception after offseason addition Fred VanVleet sustained a significant injury, ESPN reported. Approval would allow the club to sign or trade for a player on a one-year deal, but the Rockets sit just $1.25 million below the first tax apron, limiting room to maneuver.
The franchise holds five tradeable first-round picks, including an unprotected 2027 selection from Phoenix and several favorable 2029 choices, plus swap rights with Brooklyn in 2027. Contract restrictions complicate matters: eight players signed this summer cannot be dealt until mid-December; two others possess veto power, and Jabari Smith Jr.’s rookie-scale extension carries a poison-pill provision that historically makes trades unlikely.
Clippers
Los Angeles opens preseason play on Oct. 9 against the Guangzhou Loong-Lions with a revamped roster that features Brook Lopez, John Collins and three-time All-Star Bradley Beal. Head coach Tyronn Lue confirmed Beal will start alongside Kawhi Leonard and James Harden.
Beal said he is “ramping up physically” while getting accustomed to sharing the floor with two established stars. “I’ve never been around Kawhi. He’s a freak of nature—one of the best to ever touch a ball. Same with James. Their work ethic is unmatched,” Beal told SI.com. Lue added that the guard’s movement looked sharp during a recent team scrimmage.
Los Angeles is counting on quick chemistry among its new core to spark a fast start when the regular season begins later this month.
Source: Hoops Wire
