Sam Merrill was unavailable for the Cavs preseason finale because of elbow discomfort, leaving his status for opening night unresolved. He had already been limited in practice, and the setback carried through the end of the preseason schedule.
That matters now because the last tune-up before the regular season is gone, and Merrill is still part of the conversation for the first game that counts. He did not play in the Cavs Wine & Gold Scrimmage on Saturday, a sign the issue had already been lingering before the preseason finale arrived.
Merrill’s absence is not just a lineup note. He gives the Cavs offense and defense and is viewed as a dangerous shooter, which is why his availability affects more than one spot on the floor. If he cannot go on opening night, Meleek Thomas could get out there and Craig Porter Jr. could pick up extra time.
The broader picture is not one of a team flooded with injuries. The Cavs do not have anybody out for the long-term, but they are limping a bit to opening day, and Merrill is part of that squeeze. His situation is different from a season-ending problem, yet it still leaves a real hole if he is not ready when the games start to count.
There is another layer to the uncertainty: Nae’Qwan Tomlin has not been out there for the Cavs at all in the preseason, has been dealing with back soreness and was still not practicing as of today. That leaves the beginning of the season looking unsettled in more than one place, even as Merrill has not been ruled out yet for opening night.
For now, the key answer is simple and incomplete at the same time. Merrill is not cleared, but he is not gone either, and that leaves the Cavs waiting on one of their better shooting options as opening night approaches.
