Sports Illustrated’s Ian Thomsen wrote a piece running down the buyers and sellers in this year’s trade market. One of the buyers, clearly, is Boston.

A lot of the information is pretty much common knowledge by now, but there was one tidbit that stood out: Thomsen doesn’t seem very optimistic about Boston’s chances to connect on a deal that would keep them competitive now while also helping them for the future.

The Celtics head the group of potential buyers who are ambivalent about taking on long-term salary commitments. The Celtics have been investigating potential trades for Ray Allen, but the market is so lousy with bad basketball trades that Allen’s expiring $18.8 million salary probably cannot net a younger star at shooting guard to replace him for the long term. The franchises that are offering expiring deals are being offered little talent in return, but the Celtics have high standards: They can’t afford to surrender Allen without receiving a younger star to help keep them in contention. Good luck with that.

Thomsen also wrote this: “The only team positioned this week to make a deal that affects the championship race is Cleveland.” I guess nothing Boston can do will affect the championship race, huh Ian?

Can’t really see how that makes sense, especially considering that Danny Ainge seems to be contemplating making a pretty big splash.