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Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard has performed major moves ever since stepping foot on an NBA court, and now he’s about to make major moves off of it.
Lillard, 23, has a profitable rookie shoe endorsement deal with adidas, though that could change abruptly due to clever language in his contract.
Being that he took home the 2012-13 NBA Rookie of the Year award, became an NBA All-Star and reached other unique incentive clauses in his first two seasons, Lillard will be able to opt out of his shoe contract at the end of the basketball season and either renegotiate a more lucrative deal with adidas, or open negotiations with Nike, Brand Jordan, Reebok or Under Armor, league sources informed CSNNW.com.
Another source that’s vastly briefed on Lillard’s situation added, “There’s no doubt about it, he’s opting out.”
Rival shoe companies have been well-versed on the matter for months and are expected to make competitive offers, but CSNNW.com is told that Nike stands the best chance of luring Lillard away from adidas.
adidas is in no position to lose their accomplished young standout point guard.
Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose is currently viewed as the basketball face of adidas. However, his string of knee injuries in addition to the fact that he has only participated in 49 games in three seasons has adidas apprehensive he can remain the company’s headliner.
Lillard hasn’t missed a game in his one and half years as a professional and the way in which he carries himself on and off the court is without glitch if a company seeks to market him as the face of a national corporation.
The NBA picked up on Lillard’s potential global appeal by requesting he make history in New Orleans during All-Star Weekend.
Lillard was the first player in NBA history to compete in all five major events – the Rising Stars Challenge, Skills Challenge, Three-Point Contest, Slam Dunk Contest and the All-Star Game, which further increased his brand and marketability.
Retaining Lillard will be a top priority for adidas with a looming, intense bidding war definitely on the horizon.
In his brief professional career, the No. 6 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft out of Weber State has placed himself in a great, prosperous position.
Chris Haynes, Trail Blazers & NBA Insider
http://www.csnnw.com/blazers/sources-lillard-opt-out-adidas-shoe-deal-detonating-bidding-war-rivals
Lillard, 23, has a profitable rookie shoe endorsement deal with adidas, though that could change abruptly due to clever language in his contract.
Being that he took home the 2012-13 NBA Rookie of the Year award, became an NBA All-Star and reached other unique incentive clauses in his first two seasons, Lillard will be able to opt out of his shoe contract at the end of the basketball season and either renegotiate a more lucrative deal with adidas, or open negotiations with Nike, Brand Jordan, Reebok or Under Armor, league sources informed CSNNW.com.
Another source that’s vastly briefed on Lillard’s situation added, “There’s no doubt about it, he’s opting out.”
Rival shoe companies have been well-versed on the matter for months and are expected to make competitive offers, but CSNNW.com is told that Nike stands the best chance of luring Lillard away from adidas.
adidas is in no position to lose their accomplished young standout point guard.
Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose is currently viewed as the basketball face of adidas. However, his string of knee injuries in addition to the fact that he has only participated in 49 games in three seasons has adidas apprehensive he can remain the company’s headliner.
Lillard hasn’t missed a game in his one and half years as a professional and the way in which he carries himself on and off the court is without glitch if a company seeks to market him as the face of a national corporation.
The NBA picked up on Lillard’s potential global appeal by requesting he make history in New Orleans during All-Star Weekend.
Lillard was the first player in NBA history to compete in all five major events – the Rising Stars Challenge, Skills Challenge, Three-Point Contest, Slam Dunk Contest and the All-Star Game, which further increased his brand and marketability.
Retaining Lillard will be a top priority for adidas with a looming, intense bidding war definitely on the horizon.
In his brief professional career, the No. 6 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft out of Weber State has placed himself in a great, prosperous position.
Chris Haynes, Trail Blazers & NBA Insider
http://www.csnnw.com/blazers/sources-lillard-opt-out-adidas-shoe-deal-detonating-bidding-war-rivals
