Trail Blazers G Damian Lillard can "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 Armour," according to sources cited by Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com. Lillard has the option after he was named NBA Rookie of the Year last year and an NBA All-Star this season, as well as reaching "other unique incentive clauses in his first two seasons." adidas "is in no position to lose" Lillard, as Bulls G Derrick Rose's "string of knee injuries ... has adidas apprehensive he can remain the company’s headliner." However, there likely will be a "looming, intense bidding war definitely on the horizon" (CSNNW.com, 2/23). In Portland, Allan Brettman wrote Lillard has "emerged as the most marketable basketball player for Adidas." Until now, re-signing Lillard "was not expected to be a top off-season priority for Adidas," which also counts Rockets C Dwight Howard and Wizards G John Wall "among its endorsed athletes." Several reports also have indicated that adidas "was willing to spend whatever it took" to sign Kansas F Andrew Wiggins, who is "expected to be a one-and-done player after his freshman year" (OREGONLIVE.com, 2/24).
