Free agency has just started, but many players have already signed new, profitable contracts.
Superstars’ Jalen Jackson Jr. and James Harden agreed to the expansion, but many quality players joined different teams.
Despite the introduction of a high-cost one and second apron to the NBA salary cap, the organization is still spending millions.
Certainly, one role player has just signed a new deal that completely surprised former All-Star guard Jeff Teague.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have just signed a four-year, $38 million contract with shooting guard Sam Merrill.
Teague played with Merrill on the Milwaukee Bucks championship-winning team in 2021, and didn’t think there would be a “big future” in the NBA.
He even said that Merrill was surprised that the Cavaliers were willing to offer him so much.
“A cry to Sam,” Teague said of his former teammate. “I played with him in Milwaukee. We won the championship together. We didn’t get anything (playing time) either of us.
“But to see my boy get paid, I’m happy with him. I’m not going to lie, I didn’t see a big NBA future for him.
“He can shoot that ball. At that moment I was like, ‘Sam can shoot,’ but to get $39 million from the league… I’m so happy with him. I wasn’t expecting that.
“Kenny Atkinson did it again. He always gives people payments like random people. There’s no shade at Dangelo Russell.
The Cavaliers recently traded Isaac Okoro for the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Lonzo Ball.
The ball replaces Ty Jerome as a playmaker for the bench unit and also provides solid boundary defense.
Teague is a huge fan of the move, comparing the ball to Oklahoma City Thunder’s Alex Caruso from the Cavaliers’ perspective.
“That’s their Alex Caruso,” he added. “Are I wrong? He won’t even become a backup (point guard). He’ll be all Caruso.
“We’re telling them how they see him. They just signed Sam Merrill for $39 million, so Sam Merrill is playing.
“They said, ‘Lonzo, you’re going to be a backup, you’re going to be all our guards, you’re going to hit three people a few times and switch to a player… That’s what you’re going to do.’ And I think that’s a good pick. ”