VITALS: 6-2, 170, Skonto (Latvia) OVERVIEW: Valters is a member of the Latvian national team and is one of the quickest foreign point guards. He played last season for Skonto in Latvia and averaged 19.2 points and 7.2 assists per game. Valters is 21 years old and has six professional seasons under his belt. Valters is a tremendous shooter who won the 3-point contest twice at Latvian All-Star events. Valters' distribution skills are is greatest asset as well as his shooting and quickness. Valters needs to gain strength and gain more experience at a higher level, but he is an emerging prospect. Valters is the son of a former Soviet Union national team player, Valdis. LIKELY DRAFT POSITION: Valters is one of the few mystery men in this year's draft. There is not a good read as to where he will be selected, partially because many clubs had not seen him coming into the month. COMPARATIVE UPSIDE: John Stockton, Steve Nash COMPARATIVE DOWNSIDE: Dan Dickau, Shane Heal, Vincenzo Esposito ROLE PROJECTION: Reserve POSITIVES: Valters is a good shooter and a pure playmaker. He has a strong sense of the game because basketball is in his blood - Valdis Valters, a former member of the Soviet Union's national team, is his father. The younger Valters has been a proven winner his entire career. His shooting and decision-making skills are incredibly well-developed, given his age. SHORTCOMINGS: Valters is not physically ready for the NBA - and he may never be. Just a few months shy of his 22nd birthday, Valters is naturally slim at pounds and would be abused on the defensive end by the Stephon Marburys and Jason Kidds of the league.
