What is exactly interesting about discussing the hypothetical that is never going to happen? It's like discussing what should the Jazz lineup be after Collier is back and his shooting improved over the summer to the Curry level. Or if Karl Malone decided to come back and he is somehow in his 1995 form: at what position should the Jazz play him and which sets should they run?
Different strokes for different folks. I think it's interesting to think about hypotheticals. If you don't enjoy, you don't have to engage.
The main idea here, I think, is that if we have put ourselves out of the position for best odds at a top 3 pick, then is it worth it to go all in on ensuring we have a pick at all. Or in other words is trading Lauri/Kessler or sitting them and making them unhappy and missing out on the potential for playoff experience worth a pick that very likely ends up in the 5-8 range at that point? Or is it worth increasing our odds at a top 3 pick however small the increased odds could be?
I guess the other way to think about this is that I believe Austin Ainge is giving Hardy the freedom to win as much as he can. What if he over delivers on wins and puts us in a position where we are likely going to lose our pick. At what point should Ainge intervene, if at all.