Courtney Lee says he turned down more money to join the Boston Celtics.

The guard came to Boston from Houston after a sign-and-trade deal. He said Sunday that “the expectations every year for this team is to win big and that’s one thing I want to do is win big.”

Lee says his friendship with Rajon Rondo played a large role in the move to Boston.

The Celtics needed to free up more money to sign Lee and wound up making a three-team deal with Portland in the mix.

Lee is set to step into the starting lineup, withJason Terry, also signed as a free agent, coming off the bench.

The Celtics will be without the recovering Avery Bradley (shoulder) for the first two months of the season.

via Associated Press