The NBA offseason can be ruthless. You’d think a player like Zach LaVine would have teams lined up for his talents. But as we all know, despite the Chicago Bulls’ reported attempts and strong desire, the 2x All-Star could not attract major interest from any team. But if you believe Kendrick Perkin’s opinion, all these teams made a grave mistake.

The opinion of the former NBA star is based on the recent performance of the Bulls guard. “I was told that teams didn’t think Zach Lavine had any trade value. Well shame on them… he’s only averaging a casual 25 points on 55% shooting” Perkins posted on X. But why was it that rumors or reports of low trade value for Zach LaVine emerged?

For starters, there’s a story floating around that the 2x All-Star is not exactly the most team-oriented player. If you saw that moment last season, you probably remember it—after a comeback win, LaVine, instead of celebrating with his teammates, stormed off the court and brushed past a Bulls’ PR member. Not the best look, right? He did apologize, but it left some questioning his attitude.

But let’s be fair—if you’ve watched him on the sidelines, you’ll notice he’s often right there cheering on his teammates. So, is he really a bad teammate or just a guy who had a tough moment? Meanwhile, yet another knock on LaVine has been his play style. Critics say he’s too focused on getting his own shot. Breaking off plays and slowing down the team’s flow.

But then again, put yourself in his shoes—when the people around you aren’t exactly All-Star caliber, wouldn’t you feel the need to step up? Zach LaVine has had to do just that on teams that, quite honestly, haven’t given him much help. He’s played under six coaches in ten years, and the Bulls haven’t provided much stability. And here’s a wild stat reported by Sporting News—72 of his 101 teammates across his career are already out of the league.

Those aren’t exactly the numbers of a player who’s been in the best situations. Apart from these perceptions, however, his season-ending injury in season 2023-24 did not do any favor to boost the trade value. And yes, the reports state that Bulls had been actively trying to get Lavine off of their hands.

It seems, however, that no team wanted to give up an All-Star-level talent, as per the Bulls’ desire for Zach. But the 2x All-Star’s 26 ppg at 55.2 shooting percentage in the first 4 games of this season show why it might have been a mistake. At least, that’s what Perkins believes.

Not the first time that Kendrick Perkins has stepped up for Zach LaVine

The tension between the 2x All-Star and the Bulls had been simmering for some time. But then it elevated even further after LaVine expressed frustration about shouldering the team’s challenges alone. But in response, an anonymous team source took a harsh stance, suggesting that the 29-year-old’s approach has never led to winning.

The message was clear—if he wants to win; he needs to fall in line. “And if he’s motivated to not be here, one way is to come, be compliant. And be who he is,” the anonymous source said. This is where Perkins came in. Speaking on NBA Today, Perk called out the mystery source and, honestly, he raised a great question—who’s hiding behind the curtain here?

The ex-NBA star didn’t hold back. He pointed out that the Bulls’ recent record in free agency and draft picks has been less than impressive, so why is all the blame on LaVine? “Billy Donovan got a contract extension! What has Billy done? Zach LaVine in a Bulls uniform has been a 2x All-Star. And he’s been playing on a broken foot at times, on an injured knee [at other times],” he added.

Zach LaVine’s not perfect, sure, but let’s give credit where it’s due. He played through injuries, became a 2x All-Star, and averaged nearly 20 ppg—even on a bum knee at times. Perkins underscored this, reminding everyone that the 2x All Star been out there grinding, while the front office seems content to stay in the shadows. And now Perk again hitting back at NBA teams for undervaluing LaVine reflects his strong faith in the 29-year-old.