Boston — Celtics captain Paul Pierce isn't ready to take the latest deal from the NBA owners to end the lockout and stated his desire to play basketball in the Boston Charity Classic on Saturday night.

"If I had a vote would I take the deal now?" Pierce said of the offer the players' union rejected Monday. "You know what? I don't think the deal that's on the table now is a deal I would take."

Pierce was one of 11 NBA players in the game hosted by Celtics teammate Rajon Rondo at Harvard, where Rondo's green team took on a white team coached by Patriots wide receiver Deion Branch.