Chicago Bulls Blurbs: The Post-Game 1 of the NBA Finals Edition

Every Friday these days, we try and pull together some of the best Bulls-related content from around the internet into one place, along with some general NBA talk. Here’s this week’s edition of Chicago Bulls Blurbs.

I know everyone had the Chicago Bulls penned in as this year’s Eastern Conference Champions after the signings of Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade, but unfortunately for the Bulls, a first-round exit was all they could muster in quite possibly the most mediocre of seasons in franchise history.

But, that doesn’t mean there’s still nothing to discuss when it comes to the Bulls. The 2017 NBA Draft is just 20 days and nobody has a clue as to who is going to be available for the Bulls at No. 16 and 38 (if they even stay in those spots), which means it should be fun.

Along with the draft coming for 28 other teams, the 2017 NBA Finals got started on Thursday night with a bang. Kevin Durant torched LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers for a 38-piece with eight rebounds and eight assists in a 113-91 beatdown of the East’s champs in the opener of their Finals trilogy on Thursday night.

We’ll get into Durant’s huge night, including his staredown that was but wasn’t with Rihanna, but until then, let’s talk some good Bulls content, eh?

The Athletic’s NBA Mock Draft, Vol. I: Who falls to the Bulls at 16? – (@TheAthelticChi)

Who doesn’t love a good mock draft? The folks at The Athletic Chicago put together a full first-round mock draft, which obviously includes the Bulls’ pick at No. 16. They picked a good one for the Bulls (and gave a short explanation as to why): Australia’s (and former Arizona recruit) Terrance Ferguson. See what they had to say about Ferguson and all of the other 29 picks.

Fred Hoiberg should be talking Dwyane Wade into a 6th Man role – (@Tyler_Pleiss)

SB Nation‘s Blog a Bull is a mainstay here for Bulls Blurbs and this one specifically was a good topic to discuss. It’s pretty clear that Dwyane Wade is prrrrrobably going to accept his $23.8 million player option for next season. So, our friend Tyler Pleiss wrote about something that probably should happen: put Wade in a Sixth Man role coming off the bench if he’s going to stay.

Thank God It’s Bulls Confidential: Before You Explode – (@DNEdstrom)

Before you attempt to read this, please subscribe to the weekly newsletter from our friends at Bulls Confidential. They’re good people and you should read what they write. In this week’s newsletter, the editor-in-chief Drew Edstrom — a fellow Chelsea Football Club fan like myself — wrote about a tragic happening in his life recently. Sometimes, we have to step away and look at a bigger picture than just basketball. We talk about all kinds of things on the internet. Some are more personal than other topics. I’d personally like all of you to read what Drew wrote.

Jordan Clarkson could solve multiple dilemmas for the Bulls this offseason – (@MarkStrot)

OK, so the Bulls have a problem. A very huge problem that they looked to fill with … Rajon Rondo, Isaiah Canaan, Jerian Grant and Michael Carter-Williams. You see the issue here, right? The Bulls at point guard are a mess. Comcast SportsNet Chicago‘s Mark Strotman mentioned a potential trade option for the Bulls this summer: Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson.

CHEAP PLUG ALERT: Pippen Ain’t Easy discussion roundtable: The 2017 NBA Finals from the PAE crew

Along with myself, the guys and I sat down before Game 1 of The Finals on Thursday and discussed what we thought would happen in the third meeting of Cavaliers-Warriors. (Spoiler alert: All of us but one picked the Warriors to win the series and another title.) Also, I wanted to address the LeBron James situation where his home in Los Angeles was vandalized with a racial slur. No matter your bank account or status, being a black man in America isn’t easy.

Also, Cristiano Felicio has a French bulldog and he’s perfect

That’s a very good dog and I want to spend time with him.

Speaking of the NBA Finals…

Well, that got ugly.

I already hit on Durant’s huge night, but two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry played his part in the Warriors grabbing the early 1-0 lead heading towards Game 2 on Sunday night in the NBA Finals.

Curry hit six triples in 11 attempts, along with dishing out 10 assists in the 22-point victory for the Dubs in Game 1. LeBron James did his thing with 28 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists, but also had eight turnovers in the loss thanks to some suffocating Warriors defense throughout the night.

Blue Man Hoop’s Carlos Murillo touched on the Warriors after their Game 1 victory and not getting too high after a rather easy opening win.

King James Gospel’s Quenton Albertie hit on what the Cavaliers could do to adjust in Game 2 on Sunday to try and level the series when it shifts to Ohio.

Next: WATCH: Jimmy Butler appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live

We’ll see you next week for another edition of Chicago Bulls Blurbs. Be a good person in the meantime.