Looking at PER's and our roster.

[Dre Drummond]

I know a lot of people don't like the PER stat but it is pretty telling of how efficient players are. Although it doesn't gage everything accurately such as man to man defense that doesn't result in steals or blocks.

15 is considered average

Drummond - 21.69 (17th overall in NBA, #4 among centers)
Monroe - 19.52 (35th overall in NBA, #8 among power forwards)
Smith - 17.82 (9th among small forwards)

Our front court is set and we'd be the only team in the NBA who would be starting 3 players all in the top 10 in PER at their position at the SF+PF+C spots.

The backcourt is another story... There we are in a world of hurt.
Bynum - 16.62 (22nd among PGs not bad... a below average starter or good backup)
Stuckey - 13.0 (53rd PG or 36th among SGs)
Knight - 12.04 (57th PG)
Singler - 10.02 (58th of 65 SGs)

Possible additions to bolster backcourt.

Gerald Henderson 16.48 (10th among SGs)
Marcus Thornton 16.32 (11th among SGs)
Kyle Lowry 17.51 (18th among PGs)

[DetroitDon15]

FA is over. Joe D will be just trading now.

[E-Z]

PER isn't that great of a stat in contrast to win shares per 48.

Only Drummond, Monroe, and Calderon were the only players of value last season. Smith was also below average.

This source reiterates my thoughts as well.

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=313&f=2178&t=8977326

PER gives far more credence to players who dominate the ball, and tend to shoot the ball a lot, or set up other players, while shooting a low %. The most obvious examples would be Monta Ellis, Tyreke Evans, Kemba Walker, John Wall, or Jamal Crawford, and/or poor rebounding big men who don't shoot particularly well, such as Chris Kamen and Demarcus Cousins.

WS gives far more credit to players who are very efficient shooters, ie take shots they have a high probability of making, and as such do not shoot as often, are very good 3 point shooters, and players who rebound very well.

In summary, PER overrates underperforming players and underrates big time performers. WS are fairly consistent all-around.

Drummond ranks 30th in the NBA using WS48
Calderon 36th
Monroe 172nd
Smith 251st

Will Bynum 274th
Rodney Stuckey 311th
Brandon Knight 372nd
Kyle Singler 326th

As far as your potential candidates

Kyle Lowry 90th
Marcus Thornton 214th
Gerald Henderson 256th

469 players suited up last season.


Detroit gave big minutes to some of the worst performers in the game.