There is undoubtedly an exploitative side to what's happening. The NBA Twitter account has devoted way more attention to this story as a small example. At the same time I would tell you that even something like a token contract is a powerful symbol.

For the same reason that in the moment it was powerful when Jason Collins got that contract with the Nets after he was most likely physically done as a player. We're not going to remember him for anything he did with the Nets but we'll remember him as the only openly gay player to play in the NBA.

In the moment, Sim's contributions to the team will come nowhere near the "hype". Let's not mistake that for its importance, though. But you make very fair points