In the real world, two wrongs do not make a right. We are taught that at a very young age, and with good intentions. The sports world is not the real world, however. In the sports world, we have local evidence that two wrongs, in fact, can lead to two rights. Let's explain:
First, the Kevin Love trade situation. ESPN reported that sources are describing Cleveland as "the only team in contention for Love" and that league insiders view a trade between the Wolves and Cavaliers as a matter of when, not if.
While that mostly reaffirms common sense, and nothing can be consummated until Aug. 23 because of when Andrew Wiggins signed his contract, it is further evidence that the Wolves are on the verge of pulling off a very good trade. Getting a potential superstar at the start of his rookie deal is massive value, and Minnesota, at a minimum, also figures to get last year's No. 1 overall pick (Anthony Bennett) and another future first-rounder.
Perhaps it's heresy to say the Wolves might just be better off trading Love. He's a top-15 player in the NBA. So let's not go that far. But let's say that the Wolves wouldn't have been in this position where they needed to get creative if not for the short-sightedness of former personnel boss David Kahn giving Love a four-year deal with an opt-out after three years instead of a full five years.
That wrong looks like it is leading to a right: the chance to make over the roster with dynamic, cheap talent.
Next, Thursday's trade in which the Twins dealt Sam Fuld to the A's for pitcher Tommy Milone. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the idea that the Twins were able to trade an outfielder they plucked off the scrap heap — after Oakland waived him this year, no less! — for a 27-year-old lefthanded starting pitcher with 31 major league wins, 442 innings pitched and a 3.84 ERA since 2012.
Whatever negatives there are (such as Chris Parmelee perhaps having to play center field sometimes) are greatly outweighed by the positive of adding a competent pitcher to the mix.
And it wouldn't have happened if the Twins hadn't stubbornly held onto Jason Bartlett and waived Alex Presley at the end of March. The Bartlett experiment ended shortly thereafter, and the Twins' scramble to find an extra outfielder eventually led them to Fuld.
If they hadn't botched the Presley move, Thursday's trade probably never happens. Just another wrong making a right.
MICHAEL RAND
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