Sam Merrill is currently sidelined with wrist soreness, which will keep him out of the Cavaliers' second preseason game. Despite this setback, he is coming off a season where he averaged a career-high in nearly every major statistical category, including 17.5 minutes per game. Under new head coach Kenny Atkinson, Merrill's three-point shooting ability, demonstrated by a 40.4% success rate last season, positions him as a key contributor in Atkinson's offense, which emphasizes pace and floor spacing. Atkinson has expressed confidence in Merrill, indicating that the injury will not impact his evaluation of the player. The Cavaliers are taking a cautious approach with their shooters as the regular season approaches.