Newly Acquired Parks Is Ready to Come Home

Center Cherokee Parks, picked up in a trade with the Washington Wizards Tuesday, will not join the Clippers until today when the team arrives in Toronto for Friday’s game against the Raptors.

Parks, a Southern California native, is excited about returning home and playing for an athletic team like the Clippers.

“This is my sixth NBA season, I’ve played in all types of systems,” Parks, 28, said. “The Clippers have a lot of young kids who can take people off the dribble and go to the basket. I’ll get a chance to do what I like to do and that’s step out and hit my jumper. I’ll also be bringing shot blocking and rebounding to the team. . . . I think it’s a good situation for me.”

Coach Alvin Gentry said he’s not sure how Parks will be used.

“It will depend on how quickly he picks up our system and then we’ll just stick him out there and see how he’ll play for us,” Gentry said.

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Power forward Obinna Ekezie, who was included with Parks in the deal for swingman Tyrone Nesby, was waived by the Clippers Wednesday and power forward Brian Skinner was activated from the injured list after missing five games because of an ankle injury.