THE SIDELINES : Shaw Agrees to Play for Celtics

Guard Brian Shaw said today he will return to play for the Boston Celtics this season.

Shaw played last season for Il Messaggero in the Italian league. He later signed a contract to rejoin the Celtics, for whom he played during the 1988-89 season. A Celtics’ first-round draft pick in 1988, Shaw had one year left on his Italian contract, but had an option to get out.

But after signing with the Celtics, he said he wouldn’t play for them this season.

The Celtics took their case to federal court, where a judge ruled that Shaw could play only for the Celtics.

“I have always wanted to rejoin the Celtics, but after the upcoming season,” Shaw said at a press conference today.

“I felt it was in my best interest to play in Italy this season, then finish the rest of my career with the Celtics. The federal court has ruled that this option is not available to me so I didn’t want to jeopardize my future in Boston.”