This upcoming offseason will feature plenty of well-known, high-level players available either in NBA free agency or on the trade market, but one player who could be featured in both is Lonzo Ball. The former No. 2 overall pick is in an interesting situation being a restricted free agent because he can not only negotiate deals with other teams besides the Pelicans and potentially sign an offer sheet for New Orleans to match, but he can also be involved in a sign-and-trade. 

After not making any significant moves at the NBA trade deadline and likely to miss the playoffs yet again, the Pelicans will likely do everything they can to retain the 23-year-old point guard, pairing him with Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram for the foreseeable future, but does Lonzo Ball really want to remain in New Orleans?

READ MORE: NBA Trade Rumors: Lonzo Ball to be available in sign-and-trade talks in offseason

In time, they are going to be a really strong team and a force in the Western Conference, but Lonzo Ball is playing the best basketball of his career and could definitely be a key member of a playoff caliber team, so him leaving New Orleans in the offseason is a very big possibility. 

What Lonzo decides to do after the season in his free agency will be a key storyline to watch in the NBA offseason and his decision could definitely shake things up league-wide in terms of playoff position moving forward and potentially championship contenders. 

While he may not be the superstar talent that will elevate a team automatically to being a championship contender, Lonzo Ball can definitely be the “final piece to a puzzle” for a team with title aspirations. This will certainly be something to watch in NBA trade rumors as free agency approaches.

With that said, let’s take a look at three teams who should pursue Lonzo Ball via a sign-and-trade this offseason to not only better their chances for playoff success, but to increase their odds of contending for a title.