To say Sam Merrill took the long road to NBA success would be an understatement. The guy was literally the final pick in the 2020 NBA Draft—No. 60 overall—an afterthought to some. But instead of fading into the background, Merrill kept grinding. His sharp shooting, calm under pressure, and no-quit attitude turned him from a draft footnote to a legit contributor for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Not bad for someone who had to fight for every second of playing time.

His clutch shooting has earned him praise in the locker room and love from Cavs fans. But what story are his financial numbers saying? Let’s take a closer look at where he stands in 2025 in terms of earning, contract details, and overall net worth.

What is Sam Merrill’s contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers? What’s his net worth?

Merrill inked a three-year deal with Cleveland in March 2023. The contract is valued at $5,012,231, and includes $2,847,238 in guaranteed money. That kind of deal shows the Cavs aren’t just taking a chance—they see real value in him. Even better, the team holds options for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, meaning Merrill’s security isn’t just about today but also about tomorrow.

Moreover, the contract gives him an average yearly salary of around $1.67 million. But for 2024-25, his base salary will stand at $2,164,993. While the figure might not scream superstar dollars, it’s a solid deal for someone who had to prove himself from the get-go. And when this contract wraps after the 2024-25 season, Merrill will hit unrestricted free agency, giving him a shot to cash in if his form holds. So, what’s his net worth now? According to SurpriseSports, Sam Merrill is estimated to be worth around $2 million in 2025.

How much has he earned over the years in the NBA?

Merrill’s NBA money trail began in Milwaukee. Back in 2020, the Bucks signed him to a 2-year deal worth $2.41 million. Not long after, in 2022, he got a new shot with the Sacramento Kings, inking another 2-year deal—this one totaling $3.83 million. So right from the jump, Merrill was stacking up solid contracts for a guy picked dead last in the draft.

Then came Cleveland. First, it was a short-term audition—a 10-day contract in March 2023 worth $105,522. But clearly, Merrill impressed. Just 11 days later, the Cavs handed him a full three-year deal worth over $5 million. As of March 2025, Spotrac estimates Merrill’s total career earnings at a neat $7,684,044.

Now here’s where it gets fun. For the 2024-25 season, Merrill is pulling in a base salary of $2,164,993. When you break that down, he’s making about $4.12 every single minute of the year—yes, even while he sleeps. That’s some serious passive income.

In comparison, during the 2023-24 season, he earned $1,997,238, which worked out to around $3.80 per minute. Go back even further to 2022-23, and he made roughly $1.62 per minute. So yeah, Merrill’s minutes are getting more and more valuable every season—and not just on the court.

A look at Sam Merrill’s college and professional career

To begin with, Sam Merrill wasn’t just another high school hooper. At Bountiful High, he was already showing signs of leadership and grit. By his sophomore year, he was in the starting lineup, and things only went up from there. As a junior, he averaged 18.3 points, 6.8 boards, 5.4 assists, and 2.2 steals per game.

Naturally, the recognition followed. Merrill earned first-team all-state nods from both the Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune. But he wasn’t done yet. In his senior year, he led Bountiful to a 4A state championship, averaging 15.8 points and 7.4 assists. He hit double digits in all but one game and poured in 20 or more six different times.

What really made him stand out, though, was how he showed up when it mattered most. Merrill walked away with back-to-back Region 6 MVP honors and the 4A title in his final year. He had offers from Stanford and Princeton but chose Utah State—a decision that kept him close to home but didn’t limit his potential.

Eventually, Merrill heard his name called with the final pick of the 2020 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks. He joined a loaded team and averaged 7.8 minutes. Still, he made the most of it—playing 30 games, shooting 44.7% from deep, and getting a championship ring as a rookie.

But things didn’t stay golden for long. After his title-winning rookie season, Bucks traded Merrill to the Memphis Grizzlies for 2021–22. But with a packed backcourt and some tough injury luck, his stint there was short-lived. He played just six games, averaging 9.6 minutes and 4.2 points, before Memphis let him go mid-season.

Still, Merrill wasn’t ready to hit pause. Instead, he suited up for the Cleveland Charge in the G League, and that’s where things started clicking again. He impressed with his leadership and scoring, which led to a call-up. In five games for the Cavs that season, he dropped 5 points a night in under 12 minutes—enough to get noticed by the coaching staff.

Fast forward to now, and Merrill’s holding steady. He’s putting up 7.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 40.6% from the floor. S0, that’s Sam Merrill’s journey from a small-town high school standout to carving out a solid NBA role.