NBA 2026 Biggest Flight Risks LeBron Harden McCollum

Merlin sees a league-wide roster map pointing straight at next summer. The story grades every team’s likeliest 2026 free-agency flight risk by two tests: who is most likely to leave and how much damage that would cause. Names range from veteran ring-chasers like CJ McCollum and Norman Powell to rentals such as Nikola Vučević, breakout restricted candidates like Peyton Watson and Sandro Mamukelashvili, and health or cap headaches like Kristaps Porziņģis and Mitchell Robinson. Merlin whispers that the real summer fights will come over mid-tier breakouts and expiring deals. Teams over the tax or short on Bird rights will be squeezed; clubs with young cores must choose between paying role players or preserving room for stars. Watch restricted players who suddenly flashed this season and the teams that mispriced them — those signings will rewrite several rosters.