The NBA fined Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert $100,000 — the maximum amount allowed for conduct detrimental to the league as written in the Collective Bargaining Agreement — on Sunday for “directing an inappropriate and unprofessional gesture toward a game official, and publicly criticizing the officiating” during Friday’s game in Cleveland.

Gobert flashed a money sign toward the officials after he fouled out in the final minute of regulation of Minnesota’s overtime loss to the Cavaliers, leading to a technical foul that allowed Cleveland to tie the score with a free throw. After the game, Gobert defended his gesture as “the truth.”

“I think it’s hurting our game. I know the betting and all that is becoming bigger and bigger, but it shouldn’t feel that way,” he said.

Implying that the officials are in any way compromised by gambling — without any evidence — is, of course, quite damaging to the NBA. While there were a number of questionable whistles throughout the game against both teams, Gobert’s sixth foul did appear to be the correct call.

The NBA said Sunday that the fine “takes into account Gobert’s past instances of conduct detrimental to the NBA with regard to publicly criticizing the officiating.”

Gobert has criticized the officiating after numerous games already this season.

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Teams with an abundance of salary-cap room first look to invest in their own players. It’s always more sound to build from within than to chase veterans in free agency, where teams wind up overpaying for players who, in many cases, are available for a reason.

The Chicago Bears head into a seismic offseason with a healthy cap situation. They have the eighth-most “effective cap space,” according to overthecap.com, at $36.6 million. Effective cap space takes into account where a team will be after it has met what’s called the “Rule of 51,” for offseason bookkeeping purposes, and signed its projected rookie class. For the Bears, that includes the first and ninth picks in the draft.

The Bears’ figure is expected to rise. Releasing free safety Eddie Jackson and offensive lineman Cody Whitehair would create an additional $21 million in cap room. So general manager Ryan Poles has more than enough flexibility to accomplish his goals for the next phase of roster construction.

That process figures to begin with negotiations to retain cornerback Jaylon Johnson, who was voted to the Pro Bowl Games and was a second-team All-Pro after a banner season that included a career-high four interceptions.

“Jaylon’s not going to go anywhere,” Poles said last week, a sure sign the Bears are prepared to use the franchise tag if they’re unable to hammer out a multiyear contract before the window closes. Teams can apply the tag from Feb. 20 through March 5.

The franchise tag for cornerbacks is expected to be about $18.8 million in 2024, and that would set a floor for contract negotiations and buy another five months to work out more than a one-year deal. The Bears have used the franchise tag twice in the last decade — on wide receivers Allen Robinson in 2021 and Alshon Jeffery in 2016 — and placed the transition tag on cornerback Kyle Fuller in 2018.

Johnson is aiming to become the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback, a distinction currently held by Jaire Alexander of the Green Bay Packers or Denzel Ward of the Cleveland Browns, depending on how you measure it.

“The ball’s in my court, the ball’s in my favor,” Johnson said Wednesday when he appeared on the Fox Sports podcast “All Facts No Brakes” with Keyshawn Johnson. “I think it’s just a matter of time and when it happens. Going into the negotiations I don’t think there’s too much to try to talk about.

“I feel like there’s no reason why I can’t be the highest-paid corner in the league. That’s what I’m aiming for. That’s what I’m shooting for. That’s what I think can be done and should be done.”

Alexander received a four-year, $84 million extension in 2022, with the average annual salary of $21 million setting the bar atop the market. That same year, Ward got a five-year, $100.5 million extension ($20.5 million average) with a record $44.5 million fully guaranteed. Jalen Ramsey of the Miami Dolphins is the only other cornerback in the $20 million club in terms of annual average, having signed a five-year, $100 million deal in 2020.

Two years after the Alexander and Ward contracts, with Johnson having bet on himself, it stands to reason he is shooting to reset the market considering his performance and accolades and the rising salary cap. Whether he gets there remains to be seen.

Poles was reluctant to consider a market-setting deal for inside linebacker Roquan Smith in 2022. While he hasn’t spoken specifically about numbers for Johnson, cornerback is considered a more premium position and the Bears could maintain a strength by retaining Johnson with developing second-year cornerbacks Tyrique Stevenson and Terell Smith and third-year nickel back Kyler Gordon.

The cornerback market took a slight dip since Alexander and Ward were paid, but that probably had more to do with the available talent than a shift in thinking about positional value and budget allocation.

Some defensive coaches place a greater premium on cover men than pass rushers with the philosophy that it’s easier for offenses to scheme around a defensive end than an elite cornerback, especially one who isn’t a liability against the run.

That’s not to say you can play great defense without top-tier edge rushers — you can’t. It all goes hand in hand, but if forced to pick an elite cornerback or an elite edge rusher, some coaches would go with the guy who can mirror top-tier wide receivers.

That’s why it is paramount the Bears keep their talent. Johnson turns 25 in April, and he’s only eight months older than Gordon despite having two more years of experience.

The Bears love Johnson and his makeup, and he’s wired exactly how you want a cornerback to be with a desire to face the best receiver every Sunday. The only issue they will have when considering whether to make him the highest-paid cornerback in the league is durability. He missed three games this season, including the finale against the Packers when a minor shoulder injury sidelined him. He missed six games in 2022, two in 2021 and three as a rookie.

That doesn’t take away from what Johnson accomplished this season, meeting the challenge of delivering more on-the-ball production. It’s important to recognize Johnson was having an elite season before Poles acquired defensive end Montez Sweat at the trade deadline. So it’s not like his ascent was the result of a suddenly enhanced pass rush.

The front office has a lot to work through with its attention being pulled in many directions. The Bears need to fill out Matt Eberflus’ coaching staff while preparing for free agency and draft meetings.

Confidence should be high that the Bears will resolve matters with Johnson, but it could take some time. The last three players on whom the Bears used the franchise tag — Robinson, Jeffery and defensive tackle Henry Melton (2013) — played out their one-year deals. The Bears secured running back Matt Forte with the franchise tag in 2012, ultimately leading to a four-year contract.

The goal with Johnson has to be a multiyear agreement.

“We’ll work through it and get something done,” Poles said.

It’s a matter of how high the dollars — and more importantly the guarantees — go.

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Trailing by a seemingly insurmountable deficit with a couple of minutes left, it looked like it was all over for the Hawkeyes women’s basketball team.

Not enough time to mount a comeback. Thanks for coming out. Goodnight.

Then the superstar that is Caitlin Clark woke up.

She nailed a nasty stepback jumper to cut into the deficit to get the crowd back into it, assisted on a fastbreak layup to Hannah Stuelke, then found Kate Martin in the corner for a shot from long range. As the clock ticked away in the final minute — 50 seconds, 40 seconds, 30 seconds — Clark went into attack mode knowing she needed a bucket. She fought her way into the paint, muscled up a contested layup, and tied the game to force overtime

The extra session served as Clark’s coronation.

With the Hawkeyes trailing once again, she went back to the stepback jumper, sinking the shot to give her team a lead it would relinquish. She intercepted a pass on the next possession and knocked down a pair of free throws. She finished the game with another steal for good measure, then chucked the ball into the crowd as the final buzzer sounded and confetti rained down.

Iowa guard Caitlin Clark celebrates as time expires during the overtime win of an NCAA college basketball game against Nebraska in the final of the Big Ten women’s tournament Sunday, March 10, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

For the third straight year — with Clark leading the charge — the Hawkeyes are Big Ten Tournament champions. No. 2 seed Iowa earned a 94-89 win over No. 5 seed Nebraska in a game for the ages on Sunday afternoon at Target Center. A heavy emphasis on the word earned.

It was the latest master class from Clark as she finished with 34 points, 7 rebounds, and 12 assists. She shook off a rough shooting performance to start the game and proved she’s undoubtedly the best player in the country. Maybe the best player that’s ever played women’s college basketball.

That said, Clark couldn’t have done it without her teammates, as Stuelke finished with 25 points, Martin chipped in with 13 points, Sydney Affolter recorded 11 points and with 11 rebounds, and Gabbie Marshall played incredible defense on the perimeter down the stretch.

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There will soon be resolution for the Vikings when it comes to the future of quarterback Kirk Cousins.

The legal tampering period in the NFL begins at 11 a.m. Monday. That’s the earliest Cousins and his agent Mike McCartney can start talking to new teams, even though no deal with anyone other than the Vikings can become official until free agency begins at 3 p.m. Wednesday. That said, if Cousins is going to move on from Minnesota, the word will likely get out before then.

There’s a hard deadline for the Vikings to agree to terms with Cousins. His contract voids at 3 p.m. Wednesday, and as soon as that happens, the Vikings will be on the hook for $28.5 million in dead cap. The only way to get that number down is to renegotiate before the contract voids.

The conversation this week will stretch beyond Cousins with many players in search of a new contract.

Here’s a look the pending free agents the Vikings potentially stand to lose (ordered by current average per year):

Kirk Cousins, quarterback

This is the first domino that needs to fall. The rumors have tied Cousins to the Atlanta Falcons, and if they come in with the highest offer, there’s a good chance that’s where he signs. Maybe the biggest thing the Vikings have going for them is that Cousins has continuity with head coach Kevin O’Connell. Would he be willing to take less money to keep that going?

Danielle Hunter, edge rusher

The word on the street is that edge rusher Danielle Hunter wants to stay with the Vikings if the price right. The issue is that his services will be in high demand, with the Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars and Arizona Cardinals, among a handful of others, all interested in and capable of offering a lot of money. This will come down to dollar signs.

Marcus Davenport, edge rusher

It would be surprising to see the Vikings reach a new deal with edge rusher Marcus Davenport. He played very sparingly last season as he battled through a host of injuries. It was a bad marriage from the start, and there’s no point in trying to make it work.

Jordan Hicks, linebacker

This is something the Vikings would likely be interested in if linebacker Jordan Hicks is willing to sign for a bargain. He is a revered leader in the locker room and his presence would help with the continued development of fellow linebacker Ivan Pace Jr.

Dalton Risner, offensive guard

After sliding into a starting role last season, offensive guard Dalton Risner should be a candidate to return. It’s worth noting that Risner played hardball the last time he was a free agent. It will be interesting to see how things play out this time around.

Oli Udoh, offensive tackle

It wouldn’t be a shock if the Vikings moved on from offensive tackle Oli Udoh. He suffered a torn quad last season, and he might be looking for more money than the Vikings are willing to offer.

Greg Joseph, kicker

How much will kicker Greg Joseph want? That is the question. As much as special-teams coordinator Matt Daniels is a big fan of Jospeh, it’s hard to imagine the Vikings breaking the bank to keep him around.

Josh Dobbs, quarterback

The rise and fall of journeyman quarterback Josh Dobbs was certainly memorable. He probably won’t be back with the Vikings after getting benched down the stretch last season.

Cam Akers, running back

If the Vikings are willing to invest in running back Cam Akers, they will be banking on him being able to recover from another torn Achilles tendon. He already has gone through the recovery process once in his career. Can he do it again?

Jonathan Bullard, defensive tackle

It’s people like defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard who can help the Vikings win on the margins. He might have earned himself a raise with his solid effort. That could make him too expensive for the Vikings given the holes elsewhere.

Chris Reed, offensive guard

There is always a need for depth up front on the line. Perhaps offensive guard Chris Reed can fill that role.

Brandon Powell, receiver

It’s a good bet that receiver Brandon Powell will be back. He made some big plays last season, and O’Connell always had good things to say about him.

Anthony Barr, linebacker

As fun as it was to see linebacker Anthony Barr return last season, he probably isn’t a part of the long-term plan.

Nick Vigil, linebacker

The need for bodies on special teams would be the only reason to bring back linebacker Nick Vigil. He won’t be a top priority by any means. If he’s still available toward training camp, the Vikings could pounce.

Austin Schlottmann, center

There’s no reason not to bring center Austin Schlottmann back. He provides some insurance as a backup to No. 1 center Garrett Bradbury.

David Quessenberry, offensive tackle

Whenever he was thrust into action last season, left tackle David Quessenberry proved he’s up to the task. He makes sense as a depth piece up front.

Sheldon Day, defensive tackle

If the Vikings need to move on from some defenders in the trenches, defensive tackle Sheldon Day could be somebody to keep an eye on. He should be pretty cheap, and he played well last season in a limited role.

D.J. Wonnum, edge rusher

There should be quite a few suitors for edge rusher D.J. Wonnum. He stepped up last season and should get rewarded for it. If the Vikings lose some stars on defense, they would prioritize Wonnum with how he seemed to click with defensive coordinator Brian Flores.

Hakeem Adeniji, offensive tackle

As an inactive player in most games last season, offensive tackle Hakeem Adeniji could be looking for a fresh start.

James Lynch, defensive tackle

There was hope last season defensive tackle James Lynch would make a splash. Then he tore his anterior cruciate ligament. That could make him pretty affordable.

Troy Dye, linebacker

There is something admirable about leaning into special teams the way linebacker Troy Dye has throughout his career. That could pave the way for him to return to the Vikings, unless he’s looking for a bigger role elsewhere.

Khyiris Tonga, defensive tackle

There likely won’t be a huge market for defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga. He didn’t make much of an impact last season in his time on the field.

Blake Brandel, offensive guard

As a versatile player up front, offensive guard Blake Brandel has made himself valuable. He will likely be retained.

K.J. Osborn, receiver

No doubt looking for a bigger role — and a pay raise — receiver K.J. Osborn will probably move on from the Vikings. He certainly earned his stripes during his time in Minnesota.

T.J. Smith, defensive tackle

The fact that defensive tackle T.J. Smith still hasn’t signed as an exclusive rights right agent probably speaks volumes.

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