The New York Knicks continue to make impressive moves in the offseason as USWNT begins Olympic campaign with optimism

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This is an article version of the CBS Sports HQ AM Newsletter, the ultimate guide to every day in sports. You can sign up to get it in your inbox every weekday morning here.

🏀 Good morning to everyone but especially …

TOM THIBODEAU AND THE NEW YORK KNICKS

Fresh off just their second 50-win season in the last two decades, the Knicks are making sure their coach isn’t going anywhere. New York and Tom Thibodeau agreed to a three-year extension that ties him to the franchise through the 2027-28 season.

Thibodeau’s relentless, no-nonsense coaching style has been a perfect fit for his team full of underdogs, who have in turn maximized their abilities in the Big Apple. Jalen Brunson has become a star while players like Donte DiVincenzo have taken huge steps forward under Thibodeau, who owns a 175-143 record with New York and won Coach of the Year in 2021. The Knicks have won a playoff series in consecutive years for the first time since 1999-2000.

This puts a bow on what’s been an incredible offseason for New York.

  • The Knicks acquired standout two-way wing Mikal Bridges from the Nets in the first trade between the two teams since 1983.
  • They also kept another standout two-way wing by re-signing OG Anunoby. The Knicks were 26-6 (including playoffs) when Anunoby played last year after they acquired him from the Raptors.
  • Brunson signed a team-friendly four-year, $156.5 million extension; had he waited until he was an unrestricted free agent next offseason, he would have been eligible for a projected five-year, $269.1 million deal. Bridges is also expected to take a team-friendly deal.

Sam Quinn handed out offseason grades for every Eastern Conference team, and the Knicks earned a “B+.”

  • Quinn: “Was Bridges an overpay from a value standpoint? Maybe, but it made perfect sense in context. This is what you hoard picks to do. The Knicks have a legitimate chance to win the championship right now, and unlike many of their competitors, they are going to have a sustainable financial structure that keeps them in the hunt for years to come. If that’s the outcome of the trade, who cares about the value proposition of a single trade? The Knicks are a center away from getting an ‘A.'”

Sam also gave out Western Conference grades, where the Thunder and Spurs were the only teams to earn an “A.”

😀 Honorable mentions

⚽ And not such a good morning for …


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ARGENTINA

The Paris Olympics men’s soccer competition is already a wild one, and the opening ceremony is still a day away. Argentina lost 2-1 to Morocco in one of the most unusual and chaotic situations you’ll ever see in any sport.

  • Morocco went up 2-0 behind Soufiane Rahimi‘s brace on either side of halftime before Giuliano Simeone‘s 68th-minute goal halved Argentina’s deficit.
  • Cristian Medina then scored what appeared to be the game-tying goal in the 106th minute (16th minute of injury time) after a hectic sequence that included two saves and two shots going off the goal frame.
  • This set off pure pandemonium: fans throwing objects (including what appeared to be flares) at the Argentina players, fans on the field, etc. Players were taken off the field, and the match seemed to have ended. Then the Olympic broadcast said that the game had instead been “interrupted.” Video boards inside the stadium instructed spectators to leave. Finally, players re-emerged for the three minutes left to play in front of an empty stadium.
  • Two hours after the match had been stopped, video review confirmed Medina had been offside in the build up to the goal, and the goal was waved off. Morocco then held on for the wild win.
  • Lionel Messi posted “Insólito” (Spanish for “unusual”) on his Instagram story. Argentina coach Javier Mascherano called it “the biggest circus I have ever seen in my life.”

James Benge provided some background information.

  • Benge: “Given that Moroccan immigrants and their descendants make up one of the largest such communities in France, Argentina might always have expected the crowd to be against them in the Stade Geoffrey-Guichard. Events in recent weeks though served to heighten the level of enmity aimed at the Argentine football team. After all, Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez had posted a video to social media in which the victorious Copa America side made racist chants about France and the nationality of their footballers.”

Not a great start!

😕 Not so honorable mentions




⚽ USWNT opens Olympic play vs. Zambia


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The USWNT opens its Olympic Games today against Zambia (preview here), and with no age restrictions like on the men’s side, there are plenty of big names in Paris. It’s a huge chance for the Americans to get on the road back to establishing themselves as one of the world’s top teams, and it’s Emma Hayes‘ first big chance to lead that quest. Pardeep Cattry has a great profile on the new coach.

Our experts have made their picks, and they all have the USWNT earning some sort of medal. In order to do that, they’ll need a key returner to step up, Pardeep writes.

  • Cattry: “Mallory Swanson: Since the USWNT exited the Women’s World Cup on the back of a scoreless run of over 200 minutes, the team’s attack has been a major area of focus. Many will point to the fact that Swanson’s absence last year after she tore her patella tendon messed with the USWNT’s plans Down Under, but her return to play this year for both club and country has offered encouragement that this team can return to attacking ways.”

Here’s more:

🏀 NBA signs new TV deal with ESPN, NBA, Amazon


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The NBA officially has a new TV deal … and a shiny price tag, too. The league agreed to an 11-year, $76 billion deal with the Walt Disney Company (which airs games on ESPN and ABC), NBC Universal and Amazon. The deal begins in the 2025-26 season — after the current nine-year, $24 billion deal expires — and will run through 2035-36.

Among the key details …

  • The NBA Finals will remain on ABC.
  • ABC/ESPN will have one of the conference finals in 10 of the 11 years of the deal, while NBC/Peacock and Amazon will each get one of the conference finals in six of the 11 years of the deal. All three partners will broadcast first- and second-round games every year.
  • Amazon Prime Video will stream the NBA Cup and the Play-In Tournament.

That makes this upcoming season the final one for TNT and its popular pre/postgame show “Inside The NBA.” Turner has broadcast NBA games since 1989, and TNT Sports said it will take further action, believing it matched the Amazon offer.

This new deal will multiply the NBA’s annual national media revenue by roughly 2.6 times. In 2016, when the deal brought a similar increase, the salary cap jumped 34%. Remember Allen Crabbe, Tyler Johnson, Ian Mahinmi and Solomon Hill getting huge deals? But that won’t happen this time around: New league rules mandate that the cap cannot increase by more than 10% per year. It will, however, likely rise by that maximum 10% every year.

Sam took an excellent look at how the salary cap will change under the new TV deal.

📺 What we’re watching Thursday

⚽ USWNT vs. Zambia, 3 p.m. on USA Network

The New York Knicks have been making waves in the NBA offseason with a series of impressive moves that have fans and analysts buzzing with excitement. From drafting top prospect Evan Mobley to signing veteran point guard Chris Paul, the Knicks are positioning themselves as serious contenders in the upcoming season.

One of the most notable moves the Knicks made was acquiring Mobley with the third overall pick in the draft. The 7-foot center out of USC is considered one of the most talented prospects in this year’s draft class, and his addition to the Knicks’ roster adds a new dimension to their frontcourt. With Mobley’s size, athleticism, and defensive prowess, he has the potential to be a game-changer for the Knicks on both ends of the court.

In addition to drafting Mobley, the Knicks also made a splash in free agency by signing Chris Paul to a lucrative deal. Paul, who is coming off a stellar season with the Phoenix Suns, brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the Knicks’ backcourt. His ability to facilitate the offense, score in clutch moments, and play lockdown defense will be invaluable to the team as they look to make a deep playoff run.

Meanwhile, on the international stage, the US Women’s National Team (USWNT) has kicked off their Olympic campaign with optimism and high expectations. The defending champions are looking to secure their fifth gold medal in Tokyo, and with a talented roster that includes stars like Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, and Carli Lloyd, they are poised to make a strong push for the top spot on the podium.

Despite facing stiff competition from teams like Canada, Australia, and Brazil, the USWNT is confident in their abilities and determined to come out on top. With a mix of veteran leadership and young talent, they have the depth and skill to overcome any challenges that come their way.

As both the New York Knicks and USWNT gear up for their respective seasons, fans are eagerly anticipating what lies ahead. With exciting new additions and a winning mentality, both teams are primed for success in their upcoming campaigns.

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