Parker tries to catch up

So far, Smush Parker is playing along the lines of someone who has sat for about four months.

He’s rusty.

Adrenaline carried him through his Clippers debut against the Atlanta Hawks, where he made four of eight shots. He then made only one of his next 13 shots.

Parker, a point guard who carries the label of wearing out his welcome after a honeymoon period, hopes to stick around.

“I’ve been sitting all season,” said Parker, signed by the Clippers on March 12 for the rest of the season. “I want to come in and work out, get myself back into ball-playing shape and see where we can take this team in the future. Hopefully, I’m in their future plans as they rebuild this Clipper organization.”

The Miami Heat waived Parker after he played only nine games into a two-year, $4.6-million deal. The team relegated him to the inactive list in November after an alleged altercation with a parking valet.

Before that, the Lakers showed no interest in re-signing him after two years spent mostly as the team’s starting point guard.

Parker made his first Staples Center appearance Wednesday since donning purple and gold.

“It feels good to be back in Los Angeles,” he said. “I love the city. I love the fans here.”

Parker declined to discuss the incident that led to his departing Miami, saying only that he hoped for a new beginning.

The Clippers have been lacking at point guard much of the season.

Shaun Livingston has not returned from a serious knee injury suffered last season and Sam Cassell was bought out of his contract last month.

“[Smush] has done thingsOK,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said. “Defensively, he’s been pretty good and making plays, he’s been good and he’s starting to pick stuff up. On limited practice and what we’ve had going on, he’s been fine.”

------

Dunleavy said that Chris Kaman’s sore lower back is improving, but is unsure of when Kaman will play. Kaman has missed 10 of the last 15 games.

Aaron Williams (abdominal strain) is still out.

--

jonathan.abrams@latimes.com