Paul George's Loyalty Pledge Backfires? 76ers May Trade Him for Durant or Markkanen Despite "Retire

Paul George's "Retire in Philly" Pledge Meets Trade Rumors: 76ers May Package Him for Durant or Markkanen

(Translation optimized for narrative tension with insider details)

George's Loyalty Declaration

On his podcast, the 76ers star made an emotional commitment:
"I'm focused on building here—this is my last stop. I want to establish real connections because I plan to retire in Philadelphia."

Harsh Reality Check

• 2023-24 Stats:

• 41 games played (load management)

• 16.2 PPG / 5.3 RPG / 4.3 APG

• 43% FG, 35.8% 3PT

• Team Collapse: 76ers finished 24-58 (East’s 3rd-worst)

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Trade Bombshell

Per ESPN's Jeremy Woo & Jonathan Givony:

• 76ers may offer George + No. 3 pick for:

• Kevin Durant (PHX seeks youth)

• Lauri Markkanen (UTAH open to deals)

• Historical Context: Philly rarely trades top-3 picks (last: 2017, Fultz)

Fan Dilemma

Should the 76ers cash in on PG13? Vote below!

(Style: Uses bold for contractual stakes, italics for emotional quotes. Ends with call-to-action.)
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