2021 NBA offseason: Listing the top 5 free agents aged 36 or more

#3 J.J. Redick

Sharpshooter J.J. Redick

At 37, and having played just 44 games this season, J.J. Redick is still in high demand. In 2019, the three-point specialist was overpaid by the New Orleans Pelicans in a short-term deal and is now available as an unrestricted free agent and probably a fraction of the $13m he earned this year.

Evan Massey reported at the beginning of last month that Redick would have a number of suitors this summer, including the New York Knicks and LA Lakers. The guard has stated in the past that he would prefer to play on the East coast now to be closer to his family, therefore the likes of the Knicks, 76ers and Nets could have more luck signing him.

JJ Redick's market isn't going to be huge, but a handful of teams are expected to have interest.Among those teams are the #Lakers, #Knicks, #76ers, and #Nets, source tells @HoopAnalysisNet.Championship hopeful teams need elite shooting. Redick can still provide just that.

— Evan Massey (@massey_evan) June 24, 2021

Redick is still an elite perimeter shooter who can provide valuable minutes off the bench. When he previously played in Philly for two seasons, the former Duke legend averaged over 17 points a game and drained over 40% of threes. A consistent run of games for a franchise he feels comfortable moving to could see Redick's previous form return.

#2 P.J. Tucker

Milwaukee Bucks v Atlanta Hawks - Game Six

Fresh off the back of helping the Milwaukee Bucks to the NBA championship, P.J. Tucker's future has already been brought into question after the veteran forward becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer. Signing Tucker midseason proved to be a masterstroke for the Bucks and his doggedness on defense and competitive spirit will make him one of the most sought-after targets in the offseason for other title competitors.

Of course, the Bucks would like to keep the 36-year-old, however they are currently in a quandary regarding their salary inflexibility this summer. Retaining Tucker at around $8m would add an additional $15m to their luxury tax bill, however, if he doesn't return they would be unable to replace his salary slot.

It could depend on what Tucker is offered by other teams. There are a number of top contenders next year who would benefit from his elite defensive attributes and rebounding ability, such as the Brooklyn Nets and Dallas Mavericks.

#1 Carmelo Anthony

Portland Trail Blazers veteran Carmelo Anthony with star Damian Lillard

Our top veteran unrestricted free agent is Carmelo Anthony. At 37, Melo is coming into his 19th season in the league, however still has a lot to offer as an experienced head on and off the court and as a knockdown scorer. In fact, the 2020-21 campaign was one of his most accurate shooting years, connecting with over 40% of field goal efforts and threes for only the third time in his career.

Per 36 minutes, Anthony had his most efficient campaign since 2017, averaging 13.4 points and 3.1 rebounds per game for the Portland Trail Blazers. For his age, he has tremendous durability, playing in 69 contests during the regular season this year and in each of the Trail Blazers playoff fixtures.

Having earned just over $2.5m this year, Anthony comes with immense value for money and would be a shrewd pick for any side looking to compete for a championship. The ideal fit would be with the LA Lakers if they are unable to land one of the big names they are connected with, or the Utah Jazz to help with their second-unit's lack of shot creation.