Perkins reveals Rondo-Allen feud tied to failed Chris Paul deal

It wasn’t just Ray Allen miffed about being dangled in Boston Celtics trades – but Rajon Rondo won’t forgive that Sugar Ray wanted him gone.

As time passes, we learn more and more about the roots of the rift between former Boston Celtics shooting guard Ray Allen and the rest of the 2008 title team.

Or, at least the individual takes on what’s behind it as Allen and his ex-teammates reveal new bits of information about how the rift opened in the first place, as did one-time Celtics center Kendrick Perkins on a recent Sirius FM radio appearance.

The former UConn standout has long leaned on being dangled in trade talks as a defense for his sudden exit to the rival Miami Heat in the summer of 2012.

Yet, one of the thornier issues reportedly at the heart of the enmity between Allen and point guard Rajon Rondo also had to do with a trade.

Evidently, Chris Paul was a potential trade option for the Celtics, and when the “Big Three” of Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce were consulted about a package that would include Rondo for the perennial All-Star, only the former Husky was on board with the deal, reports Perkins.

And then, somehow, Rondo found out.

“Rondo ended up finding out about [Allen’s stance on dealing him] and that was it from there,” related Perk. “To the point where we brought boxing gloves to the gym and they got on boxing gloves, Ray and Rondo, like they put on the gloves.”

“We made them box it out for like two rounds,” he added.

Evidently, the match hasn’t ended, as the two still take shots at each other in the media from time to time. That the deal in question never occurred seems to matter little — if anything, it made things worse.

There is hope the rift may be ended to honor Garnett’s recent election to the Hall of Fame and his looming jersey retirement. But then, rumbles like this appear as they have at similar junctures in the past that would have been a natural point to mend burnt bridges.

If time heals all wounds, these ones must be especially deep.

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