According to ESPN’s Nick DePaula, Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler and Jordan Brand agreed to a mutual parting of ways. The deal was set to end September 30 and Butler is “expected to now begin discussions with multiple brands toward negotiating a new multiyear endorsement deal” , possibly getting something done before the All-Star break in February.
This will mark the third brand that the 2014-15 Most Improved Player will wear over the course of his career. After being taken 30th overall in the 2011 out of Marquette by the Chicago Bulls, Butler initially rocked the three stripes of Adidas before taking a massive 75% pay cut to join Jordan Brand three seasons later.
Competition to get Butler will not only be fierce, not only from industry giants Adidas and even Nike but also Puma and New Balance ,who have returned to the basketball space. Chinese brands such as Anta, LI-Ning and Peak may also put bids in and they have shown they do not have reservations or the inability to shell out big money to sign players to their brand.
