This is what I was going to try this weekend , get up under there and see what's tight and what's just not aligned.Not likely. If the transfer case lever is very stiff, then the pivot pin has corroded. You can verify this by simply removing the cotter pin and disconnecting the linkage to the transfer case. The shift lever should move with no resistance.
This step by step that @DominicanFZJ80 makes root causing very simple.
Ty both!