Maybe it will be an unhappy player as the trade deadline approaches.
Then there’s always something as common as an injury or a failed coronavirus test.
Either way, drama will be headed the Bulls way at some point this season.
That’s just the NBA.
A reality show caught somewhere between live games playing out on an almost nightly basis and “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.’’
What the Bulls’ Zach LaVine was hoping was that when the drama does come their way they have strong enough leadership and enough depth to handle it.
Until that happens, however, it would benefit LaVine & Co. to do everything they can to take advantage of other teams dealing with the drama, especially in the Eastern Conference.
Kyrie Irving and his vaccination stance has been in the headlines for weeks, and now Philadelphia is dealing with what to do with problem child – and All-Star – Ben Simmons becoming a disruptive force.
By the way, a Brooklyn team and 76ers squad each expected to finish ahead of the Bulls in the conference race.
“I think we all pay attention to it and every team has its own issues, and we’re going to have some issues that we’re going to have to fight internally as the season goes on,’’ LaVine said, when discussing the league drama currently taking place outside the Advocate Center. “That’s just the NBA season. I pay attention to it, but we’ve just got to worry about ourselves. If we can go out there and just be the best version of us I think it will be good.’’
That starts with LaVine, who seems to be as drama-proof an All-Star as there is right now. He’s a pending free agent who has outplayed his current deal, but besides making his feelings known this summer on wanting to stay a Bull but also get what he deserved financially, contract talk for him is almost a non-issue.
DeMar DeRozan has had a few unhappy moments in his career, with the latest coming with San Antonio, but it was more rumors than facts, and barely made a ripple on the league landscape.
The same can be said for Nikola Vucevic. An All-Star without the usual All-Star problems.
Coach Billy Donovan isn’t looking to climb the next ladder or partake in pushups with his players, while the front office of Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley seem to be a no-nonsense group, keeping in-house business in house.
In many ways, the Bulls have become more talented but also more vanilla.
“We’ve got to focus on ourselves first,’’ Vucevic said, when asked about the usual NBA drama. “This is a very new team with a lot of new faces, and we first have to establish ourselves.’’
The first step came on Wednesday, with a clunky win – but still a win – over the Pistons.
A performance filled with growing pains, but in the end a scoreboard that read 94-88 in the visiting team’s favor.
What’s nice for the Bulls is they host New Orleans in the home opener on Friday, and won’t have to deal with an injured Zion Williamson.
Then it’s the Pistons again and a rebuilding Toronto team.
The first real test might not come until Game 5, when they host New York and the hard-playing Knicks, so there’s time to continue to gel.
“Once we can establish ourselves and continue to learn each other then we can focus on where we’re at,’’ Vucevic said. “This will be game-by-game for us trying to build this thing up.’’
And doing so with as little drama as possible.
NOTE: Forward Patrick Williams is questionable for Friday’s game, dealing with a shoulder strain from Wednesday’s game.
