It's not necessarily that Wade will be washed up, it's the motivation of key guys like Ray Allen, Udonis Haslem, Mike Miller, Shane Battier etc. They have all won rings, they're probably gonna get another this season. How many times are they going to put themselves through it? I'd think that a lot of them would consider retirement, end on a high note.
Sure Wade is getting old, but he's not going to just vanish, he's too good of a basketball player. The real question is fit on the court. It's the question: are James and Wade more synergistic of a tandem than LBJ and Irving?
LBJ and Wade are very similar players. As Wade gets older, LBJ has to shoulder even more of a load. The load on James is only going to get heavier in South Beach. The scales are going to tip and eventually LBJ has to look out for himself again.
It's not about loyalty to Wade, James did exactly what was expected of him. He delivered Wade his 2nd championship. Nobody in South Beach could hold anything against him.
Not that LBJ is loyal to Miami's fans or anything like that. LBJ is never going to be loyal to any fans. He thinks about his own interests first, and in the interest of his health, his chances at titles, teammates, his image.... It's all gonna tip back to Cleveland. Rich Paul is the guy who wants to repair LBJ's image. Rich knows this, and LeBron sees this too.
Remember Marvel Comics put out that cartoon LBJ signed off on? The idea was that in the future LBJ came home and won Cleveland a ring. Should we put ANY stock into this? It is rather strange. Remember when LeBron didn't come out in the player introductions the night Baron Davis stuck a dagger of a performance in Miami's side? LBJ must really care about what people think of him. Windy said when LeBron first glimpsed the fans burning his jersey, it hurt James deep inside.
LBJ has been quoted as saying that Irving is the real deal, he's a true talent. Eventually LBJ has to realize, the only way he's ever gonna be elevated to Michael Jordan status is to win at home. Come play with Kyrie, nobody would give him shit about needing to seek out superstar teammates to win. Irving is his free pass, he'd be every bit the superstar but the media would camouflage it with the "return to home" narrative.
Most importantly, LBJ has to realize that be and Kyrie Irving would be the most talented tandem to ever play the game. Bold statement, I know, here me out:
LBJ is the apex of physical talent, he's the most gifted player in the history of the game. Physically the only other one in his realm is Wilt Chamberlain.
Kyrie Irving is the pinnacle of basketball skill. He's more than adequate physically, but skill wise he's in CP3 Kevin Durant territory.
Maybe they wouldn't play as well together as MJ Pippen, but best believe they'd be among the most talented duos in NBA history.
And unlike Wade and James overlapping games, LBJ and Kyrie's games were made for one another. Dude needs to realize this first and foremost. Think about the redemption narrative second. It'd be a great fit.