Age is just a number: Aging vets with fantasy value left in the tank

Building a team around the NBA's elder statesmen is not encouraged. Look at the now-retired Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, and even Kobe Bryant. Their collective fantasy production in 2015-16 was far below their career numbers and only had fantasy relevance in the most desperate of circumstances. Garnett didn't even have that going for him.

Players like LeBron James, Al Horford, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, and Kyle Lowry are 30-32 years old. So, to avoid the names that will still be drafted early, we're starting at 33, when the majority of NBA players either begin their decline, or see the drop in skills become more precipitous.

Here are five players - one for each position - age 33 or older, but still worth targeting in fantasy (age at the start of the season in parentheses):

PG Dwyane Wade, Chicago Bulls (34)

Traditionally a shooting guard, Wade will likely not play the point often with Rajon Rondo also on the roster. In fantasy, however, Wade qualifies as a point guard. It is a bit of a cheat, but the other old PGs in the NBA, from Jameer Nelson to Jose Calderon, are not really enticing options.

Wade will slot in at SG, but maintain PG eligibility. Going later in drafts, he shouldn't be a team's primary PG, but he should be an added piece of depth who can be started in a pinch or when the number one has a night off.

Wade will turn 35 in January, and while he hasn't been close to his apex of 30.2 points per game since 2008-09, he has averaged between 19 and 22 in each of the last five seasons. According to an article by K.C. Johnson in the Chicago Tribune, Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg is encouraging Wade to shoot more 3-pointers. That added wrinkle could make Wade a steal.

SG Kyle Korver, Atlanta Hawks (35)

Korver had a down year in 2015-16, averaging only 9.2 points per game. As a role player, his low point totals shouldn't be a huge surprise. Where he was a colossal disappointment was in his 3-point shooting percentage. He shot only .398 from beyond the arc, making five attempts per game. It was his worst percentage since shooting .375 in 2007-08 between the 76ers and Jazz.

A lingering ankle injury might have played a part. With the Hawks challenging for a playoff position, Korver played 80 games when he could have used rest. Despite his age, much like Wade, Korver is likely going to be part of the Hawks' primary rotation.

Not much of a playmaker - averaging 1.8 assists per game over his career - he'll remain a 3-point specialist in fantasy. If that continues to disappear, he will be droppable fairly early on. There is a good chance, however, that he does enough with his 3-pointers to alleviate pressure from targeting one-dimensional players earlier in drafts.

SF Joe Johnson, Utah Jazz (35)

"ISO" Joe has yet to make his Jazz debut, but he'll likely wind up coming off the bench either to start the season, or partway through. The Jazz have an absurd amount of veteran depth added to their roster this offseason to take the pressure off the youth movement at the core of the franchise.

Johnson has shot .372 from three-point range throughout his 15-year career and hasn't averaged fewer than 3.5 three-point attempts since 2003-04. Even if his minutes are slightly reduced, he was signed to a two-year deal, so he's going to play. Johnson will probably go undrafted, so there is no immediate rush to take a flier on him, but he's worth monitoring as the situation clarifies.

PF Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks (38)

The big men are still active fantasy commodities, and Nowitzki should be taken somewhere between the sixth and eighth rounds. Though he is nowhere close to dominant fantasy force he was in the early to mid-2000s, it's not solely a nostalgia pick. He averaged 18.3 points and 6.5 rebounds while attempting 4.6 3-pointers a game.

Nowitzki is a better real-life player than fantasy option at this stage of his career, but if he falls in drafts, he's worth grabbing. Wait on him, and if someone else drafts him early, it won't be a problem. If he is still lingering a round or two later, he will be a nice depth option.

C Pau Gasol, San Antonio Spurs (36)

LaMarcus Aldridge saw his fantasy value dip despite remaining an excellent player when he signed with the San Antonio Spurs prior to last season. His usage was different within the Spurs' system and he took a while to fully adjust. Gasol has been around long enough that he won't necessarily have to adjust, but don't think he'll be anywhere close to the team's focal point.

Gasol is entering the twilight of his career and will be more of a role player within Gregg Popovich's system despite being a starter. In this case, his ADP is entirely too high. But Gasol has never missed much time, except for a couple of early seasons in Memphis where he failed to play 60 games.

He averaged 11 rebounds in each season with the Chicago Bulls and has shown relatively solid scoring. Expect the rebounds to stay close to the same with the scoring to drop. Like Nowitzki, it's worth waiting to see if fellow owners don't trust his age combined with his uncertain role with San Antonio.