THE HOT CORNER

1 PRO BASKETBALL: The Cleveland Cavaliers signed guard Sam Merrill to a multiyear contract on Tuesday, filling their open roster spot as they near clinching a playoff berth. The 6-foot-4 Merrill has only appeared in one game for Cleveland after playing in 34 for the G League Charge and averaging 16.4 points. He scored a season-high 32 against Greensboro on Feb. 22.

2 COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Suzy Merchant has stepped down as Michigan State’s women’s basketball coach, citing health concerns. The 53-year-old Merchant had not coached the Spartans since she was in a onecar crash after a medical incident in January. Six seasons ago, she collapsed onto the court during a game and doctors later discovered she had a heart abnormality.

3 PRO BASEBALL: Duque Hebbert turned just one inning of work in the World Baseball Classic into a contract. The 21-year-old pitcher for Nicaragua entered Monday’s game against the Dominican Republic in the ninth inning and struck out All-stars Juan Soto, Julio Rodríguez and Rafael Devers. That feat impressed the Detroit Tigers enough to offer Hebbert a minor league contract after the game.

4 OLYMPICS: French President Emmanuel Macron launched the 500-day countdown to the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics on Tuesday. In the speech and on Twitter, Macron thanked the 45,000 volunteers mobilizing to make the Games“a success”and again trumpeted the 5,000 new sports grounds that are in the works. Macron also made reference to the ambitious $1.5 billion plan to clean the polluted waters of the Seine, Paris’ main river artery.

5 PRO SOCCER: Atlanta United’s Caleb Wiley was voted the MLS Player of the Week after scoring two goals in last week’s 3-0 road win against Charlotte. Wiley is the second United player this season to be voted Player of the Week; Thiago Almada was honored in Week 1.