"Paul Pierce spent his Saturday morning leading exercise sessions with local kids at the Salvation Army Kroc Center, part of his program for childhood fitness, and he was expected to participate in tonight's Rajon Rondo-organized all-star game at Harvard.

Pierce is ready to return to the court for the Celtics, but the four-month long NBA lockout that has now become a legal battle prevents that. Pierce was linked to a player uprising that was prepared to decertify the players' union for a better advantage against the league's owners.

While the NBPA did disband this past week, Pierce said he only viewed decertification as an option and denied that he was encouraging fellow players to dissolve the union."