#60 - Sam Merrill - Utah State

[MVP2110]

I think everyone realizes that the 60th pick is more likely to not stick in the NBA for long than he is, but it's also not hard to see why people are hoping he can be a Duncan Robinson type shooter. Robinson averaged 42% from three and 86% FT in college, Merrill averaged 42% and 49%. Both entered the league in their mid 20s. The biggest advantage in the league Robinson will have is he's 6'8", but Merrill isn't exactly Isaiah Thomas. Also worth noting, though, that Duncan didn't play much in his first season and when he did he didn't shoot well.

Merrill shot 49% from the FT line in college? Yikes lol

[tski1972]

I think everyone realizes that the 60th pick is more likely to not stick in the NBA for long than he is, but it's also not hard to see why people are hoping he can be a Duncan Robinson type shooter. Robinson averaged 42% from three and 86% FT in college, Merrill averaged 42% and 49%. Both entered the league in their mid 20s. The biggest advantage in the league Robinson will have is he's 6'8", but Merrill isn't exactly Isaiah Thomas. Also worth noting, though, that Duncan didn't play much in his first season and when he did he didn't shoot well.

Merrill shot 49% from the FT line in college? Yikes lol

Merrill was 89% FT

[MVP2110]

I think everyone realizes that the 60th pick is more likely to not stick in the NBA for long than he is, but it's also not hard to see why people are hoping he can be a Duncan Robinson type shooter. Robinson averaged 42% from three and 86% FT in college, Merrill averaged 42% and 49%. Both entered the league in their mid 20s. The biggest advantage in the league Robinson will have is he's 6'8", but Merrill isn't exactly Isaiah Thomas. Also worth noting, though, that Duncan didn't play much in his first season and when he did he didn't shoot well.

Merrill shot 49% from the FT line in college? Yikes lol

Merrill was 89% FT

My apologies lol I should have used the green font

[bigdog34]

So without reading this full thread, who would Merrill’s ceiling/comp be?

[bucksfansince88]

So without reading this full thread, who would Merrill’s ceiling/comp be?

Jeff Hornacek

[LUKE23]

Horncek was Per 36 16.6 ppg @ .582 TS career, .515 from 2 and .403 from 3. I'll take that all day.

[Frank Nova]

Remember the name “Merrill Deep”, he will be a star. In the NBA or Adult Film, but a star none the less.

[Fotis St]

So without reading this full thread, who would Merrill’s ceiling/comp be?

To be Determined ... Factors that play in are : His conditioning ( he said he is has dropped to fat% to 9 from 14 ) , injuries

He could be a Bogdan sooner than we think. I would say we need to see him in a full season averaging 20 min, to have a clear image into how his game evolves. He is the perfect fit for us at the SG position if he drops 40% at high volume of attempts. I am optimistic about him cause as I heard from his interview he went threw phases in his college carrier from a role player to the Captain Role and leading his team and being clutch. So he has felt pressure and he nailed it via his shooting talent, his BBIQ and his confidence.
He can become the 4th best player on a championship team .

PS Cause our rival is the Miami Heat , I don't like that our roster has 3 undersized guards like DDV, Augustine and Forbes, while the Heat have oversized guards at all position and they are hiding all their Def flaws playing Zone against us. So we need to invest on Merrill this year, it sounds weird as the #60 but we definitely should

[ReasonablySober]

So without reading this full thread, who would Merrill’s ceiling/comp be?

Watch on YouTube

[Ayt]

So without reading this full thread, who would Merrill’s ceiling/comp be?

He's the white Luka Doncic.

[drone3]

If Merrill wants to stay in the NBA he has to work on his body and defensive IQ. Both of these are achievable but will take time.

He will never be really athletic but just like the vets in the league that have slowed down, they play D through high IQ, knowing exactly where to be at the right time.

[drone3]

So without reading this full thread, who would Merrill’s ceiling/comp be?

He's the white Luka Doncic.

He definitely bases his game on Luka. If he was 60% the version of Luka is it would be a huge win at 60. He is missing Lukas next level passing game, and obviously height. They definitely both look like Cherubs, so that's a win.

[AussieBuck]

I'm on this bandwagon, going to be calling him better than Bogdan after his second bucket.

You're waiting until #2?

Pacing myself.

[emunney]

He's almost four years older than Luka, which means he's more NBA ready

[AussieBuck]

Fairly obvious he was recruited to lure back former number 2 pick Jabari Parker in the next free agent class.

[giannis and 1]

So without reading this full thread, who would Merrill’s ceiling/comp be?

Not sure about comparison but he is an elite shooter and has good size for a guard. That is a good combination.

[craig]

.....I would say we need to see him in a full season averaging 20 min, to have a clear image into how his game evolves. ....

#60 picks rarely are given 20 mpg to determine if they can play, especially on a contender.

For a deep pick like that, his windows of opportunity are going to be very small, and he's going to need to really shoot at an elite level instantly in whatever opportunities he does get, if he wants to get more and larger opportunities.

In college, he's playing lots of minutes, he can miss one or two but still get 10 more and get locked in, and he's always warmed up. Harder to come out locked in when you come in cold and only play a few minutes if any, and maybe not even every game.

Oshkosh might be a nice showcase for him, though. He can get his 20 mpg there, and against athletes with size and quickness more NBA-like than at Utah State. Showcase whether he can defend quicker pro athletes, and whether he can consistently torch the nets at that level.

[drone3]

He's almost four years older than Luka, which means he's more NBA ready

I'm starting to feel like Lukas game is actually based on Merills.

[coolhandluke121]

Look almost Redd-like in his ability to pull up fast off the dribble going in either direction. He's probably a little slower than the slowest, most out-of-shape version of Redd we ever had the misfortune of Max Green'ing though. As we saw with Korver this year, there's a limit to how slow you can be and still be playable, and Merrill looks dangerously close to that limit.

[Fotis St]

Look almost Redd-like in his ability to pull up fast off the dribble going in either direction. He's probably a little slower than the slowest, most out-of-shape version of Redd we ever had the misfortune of Max Green'ing though. As we saw with Korver this year, there's a limit to how slow you can be and still be playable, and Merrill looks dangerously close to that limit.

I get that , but Fournier for example aint faster than Merrill. With your standards someone could say that there is also a limit where your standing reach is unplayable in the NBA too and we have 3 undersized guards. Merrill aint one of those. Basketball is not track n field and the basic skill is to have is to put the ball in the basket and Merrill sure does have this skill regardless his speed limitations. We wil just have to watch him play first and see what he can do at the NBA level.

Wait a minute ... Khris is one of the slowest players in the league , and how does he balances that ? He shoots lights out.
And Tyler Herro as a rookie averaged 27+ mpg ... just bombing 3s ... so if Merrill starts hitting them when given the chance, we need to ride with him and maybe he becomes our hero