Memphis Grizzlies’ Sam Merrill (25) dribbles in the course of the second half of an NBA preseason basketball sport towards the Indiana Pacers, Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, in Indianapolis. Indiana received 109-107. (AP Photograph/Darron Cummings) AP
In 2020, former Bountiful Excessive and Utah State Aggies basketball star Sam Merrill was the ultimate choose of the NBA draft.
On Saturday, Merrill was the primary choose of the NBA’s affiliate league draft.
Veteran reporter Marc Stein reported Friday that Merrill was anticipated to be the No. 1 total choose of the 2022 NBA G League draft Saturday, and that got here to fruition when Merrill was chosen by the Cleveland Cost, the Cavaliers’ G League affiliate.
The 6-foot-4, 197-pound Merrill has had a somewhat adventurous first two years as an expert. He was traded on draft night time in 2020 by the New Orleans Pelicans to the Milwaukee Bucks, the place he received an NBA championship whereas showing in 38 video games as a rookie.
Final summer time, he was traded by the Bucks to the Memphis Grizzlies and appeared in simply six video games final season.
This fall, he spent coaching camp with the Sacramento Kings — the place he was reunited with former Utah State star teammate Neemias Queta — however was waived.
Merrill was considered one of three gamers who performed collegiate basketball in Utah to get chosen in Saturday’s draft. The opposite two have been a pair of former Utah Runnin’ Utes, guard Devon Daniels and large man Jayce Johnson.
Daniels, who transferred to NC State from Utah, was taken twentieth total by Raptors 905, Toronto’s affiliate. Johnson, who transferred to Marquette from Utah, was taken thirty eighth total by the Santa Cruz Warriors, Golden State’s affiliate.
The Salt Lake Metropolis Stars, the Utah Jazz’s affiliate, had two alternatives within the draft after a sequence of trades (they initially owned the fourth total choose).
With the 54th choose of the 87-selection draft, the Stars took former Oral Roberts ahead Elijah Lufile, and with the 58th choose, they took former Southern Illinois guard Armon Fletcher.