Green light for 2008

PHOENIX -- Paul Pierce said he learned yesterday there was a very important letter waiting for him in Boston. Enclosed in the envelope is an invitation to join Team USA for a training camp starting July 18 and a contract outlining a three-year commitment in preparation for the 2008 Olympics. Pierce has every intention of signing the contract and participating in the training camp.

''I'm just happy to have the opportunity," Pierce said after the Celtics' 103-94 loss to the Phoenix Suns last night at the US Airways Center. ''I want to be one of the top guys in the camp come July. It's up to me to see what I can do to make the team."

Suns chairman and CEO Jerry Colangelo met with Pierce during the All-Star break to discuss the possibility of the Celtics' captain playing for Team USA at the 2006 world championships in Japan and 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The meeting built on earlier phone conversations between the two and Colangelo liked what he heard. Colangelo said invitations were mailed to prospective national team members last Friday.

''We're not announcing anything about who's on or who isn't," said Colangelo, who attended last night's game. ''I want to play it close to the vest. [Pierce] made it pretty clear he wants to play and he knows of our sincere interest. He wants to put the baggage of the 2002 world championships behind him and move forward. It's really unfinished business [for Pierce]. He wants to win a gold medal."

Pierce played on the national team that finished a disappointing sixth at the 2002 world championships in Indianapolis. During that tournament, Pierce was singled out as a selfish player, and it was presumed he would not get another opportunity to represent the US. Colangelo said part of what swayed him about the value of Pierce were recommendations from former University of Kansas coach Roy Williams, Celtics executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge, and Celtics coach Doc Rivers.

Colangelo expects to officially announce who will join the team between March 1 and March 5. There will be 25 players invited to the July training camp. While there will be no cuts at the camp, Colangelo expects to make decisions about which players will represent the US at the world championships this August in Japan. But even those who don't make the world championship team are still eligible for the Olympic team.

Szczerbiak sits

Whether Wally Szczerbiak would play last night against the Suns was deemed a game-time decision. But truthfully, Szczerbiak and the Celtics' medical staff knew long before tipoff that he would not compete after suffering a deep left knee bruise Tuesday night at Utah. Szczerbiak remains hopeful he can take the floor tomorrow night in Portland. Until then, he will work on strengthening the knee, regaining flexibility, and reducing swelling in the joint.

''I went over it with the coach and I can't really get into a defensive stance," said Szczerbiak. ''Right where the [quadriceps] muscle attaches is right where the contusion is. There's swelling. The whole knee was swollen to begin with, so it's kind of shutting down everything. Hopefully, it's not going to be too bad and we can take it day by day. I feel very fortunate because when it happened I felt it twist and I felt it pop and crack . . . It was pretty scary. And it was pretty painful because it was a good shot right where my knee is. I'm just glad it's not worse."

Deadline looms

For the last 10 days, Ainge has reiterated he has no intentions of trading Pierce before today's 3 p.m. trading deadline. Pierce sounded like a man who takes Ainge at his word, appearing unconcerned about what might happen today. ''I don't know if we're going to do anything before the deadline," said Pierce. ''But I don't really think too much about that stuff." . . . The Suns wore retro jerseys last night (and the Celtics wore home whites) to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the 1975-76 NBA Finals when Phoenix and Boston played a triple-overtime thriller.