The Ringer reporter Howard Beck wrote an article reporting on the league's insider's reaction to Clippers star Leonard's alleged signing of a Yin-Yang contract to evade the salary cap.
It is understood that although some teams will match players with sponsors or local companies to promote personal endorsement contracts, this situation is common and fully compliant. For example, Curry would advertise for the Warriors' sponsors, and Spurs players have long shot advertisements for a local supermarket chain. But this type of endorsement fee is usually only a few hundred thousand dollars, and at most it is over a million, and this endorsement contract requires players to actively promote, chairman activities or promote on social media.
According to previous reports, Leonard's situation is completely different. His endorsement contract with Aspiration has reached as high as $28 million, including $20 million in stock. Leonard has the right to refuse any obligations required in the agreement, and Leonard has indeed not made any publicity for Aspiration. Alliance insiders said: "All this is too abnormal", "the endorsement fee is extreme", and "inaction is the most doubtful and huge warning signal." Many insiders of the league said that they have never encountered a situation like Leonard since they started their careers, and that the league is even a little "cynical".