It’s that time of the year when players are looking to get paid and teams are hoping to improve.

Let’s break down the top available shooting guards in this year’s free-agent market.

(Note: Positions are determined off Basketball-Reference’s positional breakdowns, meaning a player will be listed at the position in which he played the most minutes.)

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Free-agent position rankings: Point guards

Status: Player option
Value of option: $14.8 million

The Austin Reaves breakout is upon us. The 6-foot-5 pick-and-roll decision-making maestro will unquestionably decline his modest option and enter into unrestricted free agency to cash in — and he certainly will.

Reaves is too attractive to not garner plenty of interest. He’s a three-level scorer, has greatly improved his playmaking and could help raise both the floor and ceiling for several franchises as a pending All-Star who’s entering the best years of his career.

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What makes sense: A four-year deal in $150 million-160 million territory would seem fitting for Reaves, whether he stays in Los Angeles or signs elsewhere.

Status: Player option

Value of option: $48.9 million

LaVine had an off-year with the Kings and is a prime candidate to land on the trade market if he picks up his option and becomes an expiring contract.

The 31-year-old can be enormously efficient, often sporting a TS% in the mid-60s, and that efficiency is bound to increase as soon as he’s cast in a proper role next to an elite playmaker who can set him up consistently and allow him to lean into more of an off-ball role.

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What makes sense: If the Kings can persuade LaVine to decline his option so they can offer him an extension at a lower price point, that could be worth an exploration. Of course, he’d have to get compensated thoroughly for turning down almost $49 million. Would $100 over three years get it done?

Status: Unrestricted free agent

Powell is a ridiculously efficient scorer — 60.9 TS% — who plays well within the fabric of an established offense and who fully embraces the fact that he’s not a creator. He can easily function next to a primary lead guard while maintaining a high volume of shooting responsibilities.

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There is tremendous value in a player of such quality who understands his own limitations, yet who can still dominate in certain aspects of the game. As such, Powell should have plenty of interest on the open market.

What makes sense: At 33, Powell is who he is, and a long-term deal might not be in the cards. A jumbo deal for two years for $55 million or a slightly more modest three years for $70 million is probably is within reason.

Status: Unrestricted free agent

Dosunmu, who was viewed as one of the better trade-deadline acquisitions, lived up to that hype as a Wolf, playing formidable ball in the postseason (including a 43-point eruption) and ultimately looking every bit the long-term backcourt fit next to Anthony Edwards.

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With his ability to play both on and off the ball, Dosunmu will have plenty of interest from teams around the league, looking to nab a reliable two-way player who occasionally can run the offense.

What makes sense: Sticking in Minnesota makes the most sense, as he could step into a ton of minutes, major responsibility and the chance to prove himself as one of the better guards in the league. Anything under $20 million per year would be a steal.

Status: Unrestricted free agent

This was an odd season for Grimes, who picked up his qualifying offer last summer and decided to bet on himself after a ridiculously strong finish to the 2024-2025 campaign.

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The 6-4 off-guard had moments when he looked like a future full-time starter and moments when he looked barely playable due to his passivity. Yet Grimes also had to deal with a changing role, more competition in the backcourt and having to adjust to several injuries to teammates. So while he assuredly lost money this season, there’s still potential.

What makes sense: Grimes’ inconsistent season was a problem, and you have to wonder if signing a short-term contract actually is the best bet moving forward so he can redeem himself. If he’s offered the full non-tax MLE, however, he should probably take it.

Best of the rest

6. Luke Kennard, Los Angeles Lakers

Status: Unrestricted free agent

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Kennard remains one of the very best 3-point shooters in the NBA, a major talent to have firmly in place next to Luka Dončić. Just off that fact alone, it makes sense for the Lakers to have interest in bringing him back.

7. Kevin Porter Jr, Milwaukee Bucks

Status: Player option

Value of option: $5.4 million

Porter has always had big numbers, but questions remain about his actual influence. If he opts out, teams will have questions about his fit on a good team and whether he can integrate in a meaningful way.

8. Keon Ellis, Cleveland Cavaliers

Status: Unrestricted free agent

Ellis is a player who is easy to implement, given the combination of his off-ball gravity and defensive acumen. While it isn’t clear how much he’ll earn on the open market, several teams should have interest.

Brighton have tabled a substantial £30m bid for Tottenham’s highly-rated Croatian defender Luka Vuskovic.

The 19-year-old is widely considered one of Europe’s most promising young defensive talents, despite yet to make a senior appearance for Spurs since his 2023 move from Hajduk Split.

Vuskovic spent last season on loan at Hamburg in the Bundesliga, where he enjoyed a breakout year in senior football.

He featured 30 times across all competitions, including 28 league appearances, and also made his full international debut for Croatia.

His impressive form has earned him a spot in Zlatko Dalic’s 26-man squad for the World Cup, where he could potentially face England next week.

Prior to Hamburg, he also had loan spells with Westerlo in Belgium and Radomiak Radom in Poland.

The Seagulls’ pursuit of Vuskovic comes as they continue discussions with Tottenham over the potential sale of fellow central defender Jan Paul van Hecke, for whom two bids have already been rejected.

Brighton have already moved to bolster their defensive options under Roberto De Zerbi, having secured the signings of Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi.

Robertson and Senesi have both arrived on free transfers after their contracts expired at Liverpool and Bournemouth, respectively.

Spurs are aiming to get back on track after narrowly escaping relegation on the final day of the 2025-26 season.

It was a torrid campaign for the north London club, which saw Spurs go through three managers after sacking Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor before finally settling on De Zerbi.

Meanwhile, Brighton want to bolster their own ranks ahead of their return to Europe after qualifying for next season’s Conference League.

It promises to be a busier season for Brighton due to their European commitments, and the potential signing of Vuskovic could set the club up well for another strong campaign.

TORONTO (AP) — Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will not play in his team’s World Cup opener Wednesday after Canada denied his visa application while he awaits trial in London on multiple charges of rape.

FIFA said Friday in a statement that the 32-year-old Partey won’t be able to travel from his team’s base camp in Smithfield, Rhode Island, for Ghana’s opening match with Panama in Toronto.

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“His visa application has been refused by the Canadian government,” the governing body of world soccer said. “FIFA is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas. As with previous FIFA events, the host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into the country.”

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Nor did the Ghana soccer association.

Partey was traveling back to Ghana’s base camp in Rhode Island after his visa denial. He will be able to play June 23 when Ghana plays England in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Ghana concludes group play June 27 against Croatia in Philadelphia.

Partey is scheduled to stand trial in November or later on allegations dating to his time with English club Arsenal from 2020-25. Partey, who now plays in Spain for Villarreal, has pleaded not guilty.

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A second World Cup player, Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi, is awaiting trial on similar charges in Paris.

Ghana is making its fifth appearance in the last six World Cups.

___

AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

MCG will play host to Saturday’s
Round 14 AFL game between Melbourne Demons and
Essendon Bombers. The game kicks off at 1:15 pm with Melbourne Demons heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Melbourne Demons vs.
Essendon Bombers
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Saturday June 13, 2026 at 1:15 pm

Where: MCG

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

Melbourne Demons vs Essendon Bombers Odds

Melbourne Demons vs Essendon Bombers Preview

Melbourne faces a quick turnaround after its King’s Birthday triumph over Collingwood when it takes on Essendon at the MCG on Saturday. The Demons showed plenty of grit to edge the Magpies, but backing up after such an emotional contest presents its own challenge. Essendon will draw confidence from its earlier-season upset win over Melbourne at Gather Round, where the Bombers dominated the clearances and played with an attacking flair rarely seen since. However, scoring has become a major issue for Brad Scott’s side, with the Bombers among the league’s lowest-scoring teams. Melbourne’s defence remains one of the competition’s strengths, though the physical and mental toll of Monday’s clash could open the door for another surprise if Essendon can rediscover its best football.

For Canada, Jonathan David will certainly be the main man up front, but they also have an excellent right wing, with winger Tajon Buchanan and right-back Alastair Johnston. Midfielder Ismael Kone is also an exciting player.

As for Bosnia, Sead Kolasinac and Tarik Muharemovic are part of a strong defensive unit. Keep an eye out for wingers Esmir Bajraktarevic and Kerim Alajbegovic. Bajraktarevic is starting today, while Alajbegovic is likely to come off the bench. And, of course, Edin Dzeko too!

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Aashirwad Sooryavanshi

NEW DELHI: Cricket appears to run in the Sooryavanshi family. While teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continues to make headlines on the international stage, his younger brother Aashirwad is now beginning to attract attention with the bat.Just 10 years old, Aashirwad Sooryavanshi produced a sparkling century in a local practice match in Samastipur, giving a big signal that another talented cricketer could be emerging from the family.Representing Cricket Academy Tajpur, Aashirwad smashed 103 runs off just 87 balls. His innings was packed with boundaries as he struck 20 fours and a six, scoring at a strike rate of 118.39.The youngster’s fearless looks similar to his elder brother Vaibhav, who has been a nightmare for the world-class bowlers.Aashirwad’s magnificent century helped Cricket Academy Tajpur post 234/4 in 29.5 overs, with Shivam Raj contributing 52 runs. After reaching the three-figure mark, the youngster celebrated by taking off his helmet, a moment that quickly caught attention.

The achievement was also celebrated by Vaibhav, who is currently in Sri Lanka for the Tri-Nation A Series featuring India A, Sri Lanka A and Afghanistan A. The 15-year-old shared the match scorecard on his Instagram story, proudly acknowledging his younger brother’s feat.

Vaibhav himself has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the last year. He recently earned a place in India’s T20I squad for the series against Ireland and England, as well as the Asian Games squad, becoming the youngest player ever to receive the honour at the age of 15 years and 71 days.At present, he is touring Sri Lanka with the Indian team and has scored 58 runs in two matches.

The youngster also enjoyed a dream IPL 2026 season, winning the Orange Cap after scoring 776 runs. He was named Most Valuable Player, Emerging Player of the Year and Super Striker, while also finishing with the most sixes in the tournament. Among his many achievements was a record-breaking century that came off just 36 balls.Now, with Aashirwad making waves at the junior level, the Sooryavanshi family’s cricket story appears to be just getting started.

One of the most common debates in sports is surprisingly simple:

Which athletes make more money?

Whether it’s football versus basketball, football versus baseball, or even footballers versus musicians, fans are constantly comparing salaries and wondering why one superstar appears to earn significantly more than another.

The latest example involves New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson and Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé.

On paper, Brunson reportedly earns substantially more in annual salary than Dembélé despite football being the world’s most popular sport and Dembélé being one of the biggest names in the game.

At first glance, it doesn’t seem to make sense.

But the reality is that comparing salaries across different sports often tells only part of the story.

The systems that generate and distribute money in football, basketball and even the music industry are completely different.

The Brunson vs Dembélé debate

The comparison that recently went viral showed that Brunson’s annual NBA salary is significantly higher than Dembélé’s reported fixed salary at Paris Saint-Germain.

That immediately raised questions.

How can an NBA player earn more than a footballer who plays for one of the biggest clubs in the world?

How can a player competing in a sport followed by billions of people earn less than a basketball player whose league is largely concentrated in North America?

The answer lies not in popularity, but in economics.

Why NBA salaries are so high

The NBA operates under a salary-cap system that is directly tied to league revenues.

Players receive a significant share of Basketball Related Income (BRI), meaning the league’s earnings are shared between owners and players.

More importantly, NBA rosters are small.

Each franchise typically carries around 15 players.

That means billions of dollars in league revenue are divided among far fewer athletes.

As a result, elite NBA players regularly sign contracts worth $40 million, $50 million or even $60 million per season.

Jalen Brunson’s contract reflects not only his value as a player but also the financial structure of the NBA itself.

Dembele would be the 96th highest paid player in the NBA. NBA money is different pic.twitter.com/SEQPX1Da0v

— Banter FC (@FCBanter_) June 12, 2026

Football clubs spend money differently

Football operates under an entirely different model.

When a club signs a player, the cost goes far beyond wages.

Clubs may have to pay:

• Transfer fees
• Agent commissions
• Signing bonuses
• Loyalty bonuses
• Image-rights agreements
• Performance incentives
• Salaries

When Paris Saint-Germain signed Neymar from Barcelona, the French club spent a world-record €222 million transfer fee before accounting for wages.

Real Madrid paid over €100 million to acquire Jude Bellingham.

Those costs do not exist in the NBA.

Basketball teams generally spend their money directly on player salaries rather than transfer fees.

That is one of the biggest reasons NBA salaries often appear larger.

Squad sizes matter

Football clubs also carry much larger squads.

A Champions League club may have 25 to 30 senior players, plus academy players regularly training with the first team.

NBA teams typically have only 15 roster spots.

That means football clubs must spread their resources across far more players.

Even when football generates enormous revenue, the money is distributed differently.

Popularity doesn’t equal salary

One mistake many fans make is assuming popularity automatically determines earnings.

Football remains the world’s most popular sport.

Players such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé are recognised across virtually every continent.

Yet popularity alone doesn’t dictate salary levels.

The NBA’s revenues are concentrated within a single league featuring just 30 franchises.

Football’s revenues are spread across hundreds of leagues and thousands of professional clubs worldwide.

The structure of the business matters more than follower counts on social media.

Why some musicians earn more than footballers

The same debate exists outside sports.

Fans often wonder why some musicians appear to earn more than elite footballers.

Again, the answer depends on where the money comes from.

A footballer’s income generally comes from:

• Club salary
• Bonuses
• Sponsorship deals
• Image rights

A musician can earn through:

• Touring
• Streaming royalties
• Publishing rights
• Merchandise sales
• Brand endorsements
• Ownership of music catalogues
• Investments

Unlike athletes, musicians are not restricted by salary caps, squad budgets or transfer markets.

A global tour can generate hundreds of millions of dollars.

Artists such as Taylor Swift, Drake, Beyoncé, Burna Boy and Davido have built business empires that extend far beyond music itself.

In many cases, their total earnings can rival or exceed those of elite athletes.

The hidden value footballers create

Another factor often overlooked is the transfer market.

Football clubs treat players as assets.

A club may pay €100 million to sign a player and later sell him for another massive fee.

That transfer value becomes part of the player’s overall economic worth.

In the NBA, most of that value is reflected directly in salaries.

In football, it is split between wages and transfer fees.

That is why a player earning less than an NBA star may still represent a far greater overall financial investment.

The real takeaway

The next time a graphic comparing the salaries of an NBA player, footballer or musician goes viral, remember that salary alone rarely tells the full story.

Jalen Brunson earning more than Ousmane Dembélé does not mean basketball players are more valuable than footballers.

Likewise, a musician earning more than a footballer does not automatically mean the music industry is richer than football.

Each industry distributes money differently.

Different business models create different pay structures.

And while the numbers on the paycheck may grab attention, they are only one piece of a much bigger financial puzzle.