3 reasons the Cleveland Cavaliers are committing to this sharpshooter

Reason No. 3: Low risk, high reward

At the end of the day, the Cavaliers do not lose any significant chances by signing Merrill to this multi-year contract. As it stands now, Cleveland is in a constant search for a sharpshooting wing player while most of the other 29 NBA teams are also searching for the same thing. When the Cavaliers find a possible answer, they lose nothing by taking a chance.

The current free agent pool does not have the perfect solution for the Cavs, and the upcoming summer free agent class also does not have multiple definitive answers. While there are a few choices, they may be too pricey for the Cavs or may simply choose another team. So, Sam Merrill as a low flight risk option gives Cleveland another in-house talent to develop for cheap.

In the case that Merrill does not fit in with Cleveland, he can serve as an attractive trade piece going forward. With eight wing players under contract and a slew of second-round picks available, Cleveland can set themselves up for a significant trade in the future.

For now, Merrill will be a Cavalier and hopefully a meaningful pickup for the team. He has not seen the court much in his 10-day contract, but Bickerstaff still seems to be experimenting with his rotation.

Time will tell how this multi-year deal will go for Cleveland and Merrill’s future together.