Sam Merrill never thought he'd make the NBA; here's the story of how he became a key player for the playoff-bound Cavs

Sam Merrill always had a plan, but whether it went according to the timeline that he hoped for was another story. Fresh out of high school, Merrill went on a trip out of the country that changed his life, even after a traumatizing event that saw him lose two teeth. Merrill has always seemed to have a strategy, be it how to get to college, choosing the most lucrative playing opportunities, or plotting his return to the game after a long hiatus. Almost every Division I basketball player dreams of the NBA, but Merrill's sights originally didn't go that far.