Previous Career: After being selected by the Sonics in the 1997 Draft, Elisma has bounced around. He spent 1997-98 in Israel, where he was named first team all-league after averaging 16.6 points and an astounding 14.6 rebounds over 36 games. He headed north to Italy the next season, playing with both Verona and Sassari. Elisma spent the 1999-2000 campaign in Belgium.

Shooting/Scoring: Elisma is not a true offensive threat, but he can capably score in the lane. Most of Elisma's time with the ball is spent facing the basket, where he provides an adequate midrange jumper. He can outquick bigger players to the lane. Once inside five feet, Elisma has good touch, though he's not automatic. In the post, Elisma has a tough time, as he's usually facing taller and heavier players. He can make a turnaround. At the free throw line, Elisma is slightly above average for a big man.
Grade: C+

Floor Game: Elisma is not the type of player who will be handling the ball much or used to run the offense through the high post. Generally, he only handles the ball to set up a drive or in the post. He's a below average -- though willing -- passer. Elisma does set very good screens.
Grade: C-

Rebounding: On the glass, Elisma shines. After one stretch in which Elisma dominated the boards in training camp last season, then-coach Paul Westphal reportedly yelled at his players, "Don't you guys get tired of him grabbing the rebounds every time they miss?" Elisma's 'nose for the ball' is largely explained by hard work and positioning. On offense, this affords him more opportunities because he is not usually a focal point of his team's offense, so his a better offensive rebounder than defensive rebounder.
Grade: B+

Defense: Elisma's lack of bulk presents the biggest problem for him defensively, where he has difficulty banging in the post. If used at small forward, he is not quick enough. Elisma works hard defensively, though occasionally his focus is divided by his attempts to establish rebounding position.
Grade: C

Intangibles: A great guy who the fans are rooting for to make the team. Elisma works hard behind the scenes and hustles on the court, and if karma had anything to do with it, he would make an NBA team.
Grade: A

Overall: Elisma offers the skills of a power forward in a smaller package. If he were only an inch or two taller and twenty or thirty pounds heavier, he probably would have been in the NBA for the last four years. Unfortunately, his fate as of now is as a fringe NBA player. This looks like the year, however. The Sonics only bring 12 players who seem like locks to make the roster to camp and could use a forward, so Elisma enters camp as a favorite to at last win a job. Though he probably won't contribute much on the court this season, Elisma would provide a solid practice player for the Sonics and someone who understands his role at the end of the bench.
Grade: C+