NBA Free Agency 2012: Grant Hill and Top 5 Remaining Veteran Free Agents

It's sometimes a backhanded compliment to call someone a veteran in the NBA, like these five players are. Some people are veterans because they're old and washed up, while others are veterans because they've got plenty of experience. 

The latter is true here as these are the five best remaining free agents who are at least 30 years old.

Between them, a lot of points have been scored, tons of rebounds have been pulled down and so on. They've played through their primes, but all remain effective options in the right situations. 

Marcus Camby

With Marcus Camby, you know exactly what you're going to get. 

If you sign this 38-year-old big man who spent last season with the Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers, don't expect a lot of offensive production. Instead, count on getting a capable defender who's still a monster on the glass if he plays limited minutes. 

Camby led the entire league in total rebound percentage last year thanks to his capable contributions on both types of boards. Usually players tend to excel on either the offensive or defensive glass, but Camby is more than competent when it comes to both. 

The 6'11" center will be a major factor in his 20 or so minutes per game, despite his advancing age. 

Tim Duncan

Technically, Tim Duncan is still a veteran free agent. There has been absolutely no indication that he'll sign anywhere but with the San Antonio Spurs, but he is still a free agent. 

Duncan isn't the same force to be reckoned with on both sides of the court that he was during his prime. However, he remains a great option at power forward. 

At 35 years old, he's coming off a season in which he utilized his bank shot nearly to perfection once more, averaging 15.4 points and 9.0 rebounds per game then turning it up another notch or two during the postseason. 

A long-term contract would be a mistake as Duncan is clearly entering the denouement of his career, but he's going to be a productive player for at least another year. 

Grant Hill

Grant Hill has been on the decline for a while now and is going to be 40 years old in a matter of months. However, he's still a productive player as long as he's not leaned upon too heavily. 

Playing for the Phoenix Suns last season, Hill averaged 10.2 points, 2.2 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game in 28.1 minutes per game. The desert-based franchise did well to limit his minutes even though they threw him out in the starting lineup for all but three of his appearances.

Hill is a great presence to have in a locker room as his experience at the NBA level is invaluable.

All of the injuries he suffered early in his career are helping to extend his lifespan in the Association now as he doesn't have quite as much wear and tear on his knees. Hill can still finish at the rim and play elite defense for his squad.  

Antawn Jamison

Antawn Jamison can still be a productive power forward in the league, even in the starting lineup. While his numbers are slowly dropping, he did average 17.2 points and 6.3 rebounds per game for the Cleveland Cavaliers last season while only missing a single contest. 

His range extends well beyond the three-point arc, which makes him a dangerous offensive player and someone capable of spreading out a defense almost single-handedly, even if he can't dribble. 

Moreover, he doesn't play defense much anymore, which allows him to use more of his energy on offense while remaining healthy. 

Jamison is no longer a game-changer like he once was, but he can still make a major impact. 

Chris Kaman

Compared to the rest of the AARP members on this list, Chris Kaman is still young and spry. After all, he's only 30 years old!

Kaman isn't capable of playing at the All-Star level that he did in years past, but he will be very productive in a more limited role. He should be a starter, but he should also receive plenty of time on the bench so he can maintain his efficiency on the court. 

You have to accept the inevitable turnovers with Kaman as he's a poor passer and has sub-par hands, but his developing mid-range game and creativity on the block make it worth giving him the ball. 

Despite his lack of athleticism, he's also a solid defender who can swat away a few shots.