Get 48 million for free! It aroused public outrage from the league, but due to insufficient evidence, Leonard really wins this time

The incident of Clippers star Leonard suspected of "yin and yang contract" has recently attracted widespread attention. According to reports, Clippers boss Ballmer once invested $50 million in Aspiration, and Leonard obtained $28 million in four years and $20 million in stock returns through his post. Aspiration may collect some commission as a middleman between the two parties. This incident also aroused public outrage among all teams, because if they do this, the salary cap will be in name only in the future. This incident puts the Clippers' carefully crafted luxury lineup at risk of disintegration. If the "yin-yang contract" is true, the league has the right to terminate Leonard's two-year $100 million contract with the Clippers and deprive the team of multiple future draft picks.

The Clippers' draft pick was obtained by the Thunder, and they also gave the 76ers a first-round and exchange power for Harden. If this is another blow, it will not be over? This is undoubtedly a devastating blow to the Clippers, which may lead to the loss of core players and draft opportunities in the next 20 years, and the team's prospects are in jeopardy. After all, without Leonard, the Clippers' lineup would really not be able to compete for the championship. The core controversy of the incident is that Leonard seems to have earned money in vain without any substantial work for Aspiration. If he had endorsed, promoted or participated in activities for the company, the revenue might be considered reasonable.

But when he was on duty, he received $48 million for free and had no actual contribution, it inevitably made people wonder whether this was some kind of implicit transaction. Unless Aspiration is willing to give money unconditionally out of personal preference, this arrangement is obviously unreasonable and can easily cause speculation from the outside world about the "yin and yang contract". However, the Clippers are not without their chances of getting out of trouble. In the NBA, attracting stars to renew contracts or join with benefits other than the salary cap has long been a hidden rule in the industry, but no one is willing to break the casserole and ask the final question. If the league pursues the Clippers relentlessly, other teams may also be implicated, triggering a chain reaction.

As Jason Lloyd, a reporter from the US media "The Athletic", analyzed, the possibility of the alliance taking severe measures against the Leonard incident is low. First, there is a lack of conclusive evidence. The "yin-yang contract" incident between the Timberwolves and Joe Smith was exposed due to a written agreement in black and white, and the cooperation between Leonard and Ballmer was obviously more secret. Aspiration itself is a problematic company that has been accused of cheating Ballmer and other celebrities to invest hundreds of millions of dollars. If the company hadn't collapsed, this matter might not have surfaced at all. Famous reporter Marc Stein also revealed that other team owners tend to help the Clippers calm the matter. The owners of 30 teams in the league are about to hold a board meeting in New York, and it is hard to imagine that they will collectively demand strict investigation of Ballmer. On the contrary, many bosses may be worried that similar operations of their team will be exposed and advocate low-key handling. Stein believes that it is difficult for the alliance to collect enough evidence and the investigation may be left alone. After all, to prove the "yin-yang contract", clear communication records between the two parties, such as text messages or documents, and Ballmer has long stated publicly that he only recommended Aspiration to Leonard, and that the incident happened nearly a year after the two parties renewed the contract. As for subsequent cooperation, he claimed to be unaware of it. The former Mavericks boss Cuban also supported Ballmer, saying he would not be stupid enough to leave obvious evidence. Judging from the current situation, Leonard and the Clippers are likely to survive this disaster. The culture of the unspoken rules of the NBA means that similar operations are not uncommon in the league. If the Clippers are imposed severely on the Clippers, it may lead to severe investigation by other teams and shake the stability of the entire league. In addition, the Clippers' competitiveness in the new season has also won them some "protective umbrellas". Based on the core of Harden, Leonard and Zubac, the team introduced Bill, Corinth, Lopez and Paul to form a "Sunset Red Team" with great potential for championship competition. Neither the league nor the fans want to see such a luxurious lineup disintegrate due to scandals. Overall, behind Leonard's "yin and yang contract" storm, complex business rules and unspoken rules of the NBA are reflected. Although the incident has caused heated discussion, this matter is likely to gradually subside due to insufficient evidence, interest considerations within the league and the competitiveness of the Clippers. Clippers fans don’t need to worry too much. The team still has hope to win the championship in the new season, and Leonard can continue to focus on his performance on the field and get rid of public opinion.