NEW ORLEANS, March 20 — New Orleans Pelicans’ Rajon Rondo believes money may be the reason his name comes up so often in excerpts from former Celtics teammate Ray Allen’s upcoming book.

The Boston Globe reports Allen told several stories in the book about his time with the Celtics, some involving his strained relationship with Rondo, who is now with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Among the claims is that the Celtics wanted to trade Rondo to the New Orleans Hornets for Chris Paul, but Boston coach Doc Rivers nixed the deal so that coach Monty Williams, a close friend, wouldn’t have to deal with Rondo’s antics.

In another excerpt, Rondo purportedly told Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce that he carried them to the 2008 NBA Finals in his second NBA season.

"Obviously that man is hurting,” Rondo told the Glober.

"I don’t know if it’s financially, I don’t know if it’s mentally. He wants to stay relevant. I am who I am. I don’t try to be something I’m not. I can’t say the same for him. He’s looking for attention. I’m a better human being than that. I take accountability for my actions.

"Certain (stuff) happens in my life, I man up. But he has a whole other agenda.”

Allen played 18 NBA seasons, including 2007-12 in Boston, before retiring four years ago with 24,505 career points.

He left Boston as a free agent after the 2011-12 season and signed with the Miami Heat, his fourth and final NBA team.

His soon-to-be-released book is titled From The Outside: My Journey Through Life and the Game I Love.

"The only (publicity) I’ve been hearing about is when he mentions my name,” Rondo said. — Field Level Media/via Reuters