The Pelicans "became the center of the NBA universe" last night by "pulling off an improbable win" in the NBA Draft Lottery to score the top pick, presumed to be Zion Williamson (THEADVOCATE.com, 5/14). The night "could not have played out better" for Pelicans Exec VP/Basketball Operations David Griffin, who was hired last month (N.Y. TIMES, 5/15). With a "new man in charge" in Griffin and Owner Gayle Benson "committed to giving him the resources he needs to succeed, landing Williamson really could be this franchise's moment" (NOLA.com, 5/14). In the hours immediately after the Lottery through 1:00am CT, the Pelicans "took orders for approximately 2,000 new season tickets, twice as many as they did after earning the No. 1 pick in 2012 (Anthony Davis)" (TWITTER.com, 5/15).

Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry, who was repping the team at the Lottery in Chicago, "leapt out of his chair and let out an F-bomb" when his team landed the No. 1 pick. Gentry: "I probably overreacted a little bit. I probably said a word I shouldn't have. It was raw emotion" (USA TODAY, 5/15). Gentry "stood up ... and just started running around high-fiving all the people behind him, and everybody loved it" (“NBA Draft Lottery,” ESPN, 5/14). The coach "kept his cool enough not to mention Williamson by name, which is a no-no" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 5/15). 

warriors

Each of the 19,596 fans attending last night’s Trail Blazers-Warriors Western Conference Finals Game 1 at sold-out Oracle Arena walked away with a free Google Home Mini device, as the Warriors teamed up with Google Nest for the surprise tech giveaway. It was the first time Google has given away product at a live sporting event. Team officials said that with a regular retail price of $49 for a Google Home Mini, the promotion was basically a $1M giveaway. “It’s the largest technology giveaway from our research,” said Warriors CRO Brandon Schneider. “It’s one of the most unique giveaways in the NBA.”

It was also one of the most logistically challenging promotions for the team. The Warriors did not reveal the giveaway until after the game began as part of a half-court shot contest, requiring staff to move 47 pallets of the Google Home Mini product to the arena exits before the game ended. By comparison, an Oracle Arena full-building bobblehead giveaway requires 10 pallets of product. The team earlier this season signed a deal with Google Cloud, the company's first pro sports team sponsorship.

Jerry West has agreed to return to the Clippers next season to "continue in his advisory role," according to a source. West joined the team in '17, and his decision to remain is the "latest off-court victory" for Clippers Owner Steve Ballmer and President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank, who have retained "three key front-office executives in the last month." GM Michael Winger was "courted" by the T'Wolves for their president of basketball operations role, and Assistant GM Trent Redden had an "opportunity" to become Pelicans GM. The new jobs "would have been promotions for both men" (L.A. TIMES, 5/15).

MLB has placed Dodgers P Julio Urias on "administrative leave" following his Monday arrest on "suspicion of domestic violence." Urias was arrested and charged with domestic battery after an "alleged physical confrontation with a woman in the parking lot" of L.A.'s Beverly Center mall. Urias' leave expires after seven days, but the league "can extend it until its investigation is complete." Since '16, the first full year of MLB's current domestic violence policy, 11 players "have been investigated and nine have been suspended" (ESPN.com, 5/14).

The U.S. Sports Betting Forum today holds its inaugural meeting in Boston, where it will "begin the process of debating sports wagering policies to coordinate industry standards and best practices across the nation." Former Nevada Gaming Control Board Chair Becky Harris is "coordinating what she hopes will be the first of many gatherings of stakeholders" to discuss "numerous issues associated with sports betting." Expected attendees include sports league reps, state regulators, sportsbook operators, equipment manufacturers and academics. A second meeting could be held "possibly in the fall" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 5/15).

Denver is hosting MLB’s annual two-day Soft Goods Retail Summit, beginning today at the downtown Colorado Convention Center. More than 40 MLB apparel licensees will be displaying their wares, including longtime on-field cap rightsholder New Era. Other exhibitors will include Franklin Sports, nostalgia specialist Mitchell & Ness and '47 Brand, which recently extended its 40-year-old MLB licensing-rights deal through '25.

TNT will air live All Elite Wrestling matches weekly in primetime "starting later this year," as well as streaming them on B/R Live and on PPV. AEW will be "presented to advertisers" today during the WarnerMedia upfront at the MSG Theater. The deal "marks the first time wrestling will appear on TNT" since '01 and "officially puts AEW in competition with WWE for prime-time television ratings." WWE is "moving its Tuesday 'SmackDown Live' show to Fridays on Fox starting Oct 4." Sources said that AEW’s show may "air on Tuesdays" (NYPOST.com, 5/15).

The Georgia BOR officially "approved a proposal" to name the school's football field after former AD Vince Dooley (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 5/15).

Holy Cross named Boston College Senior Associate AD/Business & Finance Marcus Blossom AD. He will be officially introduced at 10:00am ET and will assume his new role on July 1 (Holy Cross).

The Triple-A PCL Las Vegas Aviators last night "drew a season-high of 12,111 fans" to Las Vegas Ballpark for a 9-7 loss to the Tacoma Rainiers. The Aviators are "leading the 30 teams of Triple A baseball in total attendance of 230,809 and average attendance of 9,617 after 24 home games" (LVSPORTSBIZ.com, 5/14).

"I had to refer to Wikipedia to figure out everything we owned. It's a long list. I have a good memory, but it's not that good" -- Disney Chair & CEO Bob Iger, on listing the 21st Century Fox assets on a white board back in January '18 (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 5/15).

"Remember last year when you guys gave Leslie Moonves a standing ovation? That was funny. Whoops!" -- ABC's Jimmy Kimmel, at the network's upfront yesterday (Mult, 5/15).

"The biggest reason you’re seeing more of these games get scheduled is the CFP has sent a clear message it’s going to place a value on teams who play a tougher schedule" -- TaxSlayer Gator Bowl President Rick Catlett, on SEC schools now being "willing to step up and play tougher non-league games" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 5/15). 

"We both have the interest to do it in the future, just not sure when" -- Michigan AD Warde Manuel, on possibly continuing the school's home-and-home series with Notre Dame (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 5/15).

The WASHINGTON POST writes under the header, "Not Long Ago, He Was Shoveling Sewage. Now Jon Horst Could Win NBA Executive Of The Year." Just over a decade before the Bucks made him one of the youngest GMs in the NBA, Horst "worked as a superintendent at a trailer park in Rochester, Mich." Now at 36, Horst "no longer has to get his hands dirty," but his fingerprints are "all over the Bucks’ stellar season."

Also:

• THE RINGER's Bryan Curtis on why sportscasters "idolize Howard Stern."
• Inside the Hurricanes' PNC Arena, the "loudest house" in the NHL.

Great day yesterday. Good clean scan and another good day of treatment. Looking forward to the 3 man booth the rest of the week with Dave and Eck.

— Jerry Remy (RemDawg) (@Jerry_Remy) May 14, 2019

Truly a historic night for the organization. https://t.co/G06AIxLVlO

— Myrtle Beach Pelicans (@Pelicanbaseball) May 15, 2019

The attendance of 6,306 announced tonight by #Marlins against #Rays was their second smallest gathering of season; they had 5,934 for the #Mets on April 2

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) May 15, 2019

Don’t remember a Western Conference Finals opener that had less juice.

— Colin Cowherd (@ColinCowherd) May 15, 2019

why is everybody tweeting like the Knicks had an 86 percent chance to get the #1 pick and not an 86 percent chance to miss it

— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) May 15, 2019

If you see a tweet we will not want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com.

Boxer Deontay Wilder will ring the NYSE Closing Bell ahead of Saturday's heavyweight world title fight against Dominic Breazeale at Barclays Center.

The North American Boxing Federation kicks off its five-day annual convention at the Waikiki Marriott in Honolulu. 

UNC Charlotte hosts its inaugural Next Chair event starting at 2:00pm ET with a keynote address from ESPN's Jay Bilas. Panelists throughout the two days include NCAA Senior VP/Basketball Dan Gavitt, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, Conference USA Commissioner Judy MacLeod and Florida AD Scott Stricklin.

A brief hit on the stories you need to know ... Subscribe on iTunes ... Check out our podcast home. 

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “American Women.”

“In 2006 Arizona State University renamed its College of Law in honor of this history-making woman and longtime Arizona resident.”

NBC’s Seth Meyers: “Presidential hopeful Beto O’Rourke said today that he regrets launching his 2020 campaign on the cover of Vanity Fair, and Bernie Sanders said he has some regrets too” (“Late Night,” NBC, 5/14). 

“Who is Sandra Day O’Connor?”

O’Connor was the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court.