The NBA was trying to grow the game. Anything Jordan was the face of helped grow the game. So the NBA allowed hokey deals like that.
Today -- the NBA doesn't need it as much as they are popular around the world. That wasn't the case 30 years ago. But the guy who grew the popularity more than anyone in the history of the game was Jordan.
Yeah, I'm sure that's why they allowed the one the Lakers gave Magic.
No way anyone gets a contract like that now.